Lordswood are hoping they’ve turned a corner in their battle against the drop - but the big challenges keep coming.

Lords have picked up points with draws at play-off chasers Erith & Belvedere and Larkfield & New Hythe in their last two games and are now preparing to host high-flying Punjab United.

A handful of recent additions have helped while some of the old-guard have been performing, too, with Elliott Duncan taking his goal tally at the weekend to 20.

Joint-boss Lee Garlinge is pleased with the progress.

“We deserved to come away with at least a point from those two tough games and it could have been more,” he said.

“It was probably only those in our own camp who gave us hope of getting anything from the games really, both teams pushing for the play-offs, but hopefully we’ve turned a bit of a corner now.

“We’ve added a bit of youth, so we can run a bit more and we’re very pleased with the two performances.

“We were very unlucky not to win both games and hopefully we’re heading in the right direction.”

Lordswood have brought in a handful of new signings in recent weeks.

Joseph Kpaka has signed on a dual registration deal from Dartford, goalkeeper Conor Beattie has joined from Sittingbourne while Logan Thompson and Sam Wright have also arrived.

Garlinge said: “Joseph slotted in really well, an 18-year-old lad who is very technical, a very good player.

“Logan I knew from Chatham under-23s. We got him from Greenways and he has added a little bit of quality in there.

“We were lucky to get Conor the goalkeeper from Sittingbourne and they have helped us out quite a lot, they’ve been very good with us as we’ve also had Donvieve Jones and James Bessey-Saldanha.

“Sam Wright from Kennington is another young lad that I know well, from my Ebbsfleet United days.

“It has taken a bit of a transition period for us, trying to work out what we need to change and where we’re at and it’s probably been a little more difficult than anticipated because a lot of people who we were trying to get in are committed to their clubs.

“It’s not a good time of year to get people in so we’ve had to go down the youth route but it is starting to turn now into a side me and Ross (Wiles) are starting to get happy with.”

Wright was sent off in the 2-2 draw away to Larkfield & New Hythe last Saturday.

Duncan’s 20th minute penalty was cancelled out by goals from Larkfield’s Matt Day and Harvey Welford but Jake Embery squared it up before the break.

Wright was red carded midway through the second half for a retaliation.

Garlinge said: “He’s a young lad and got kicked out against, did something silly, a bit of retaliation, nothing malicious, but you can’t do that at any level of football.

“It’s a learning curve for the young lad and he’s going to pick up a three game ban and we will have to deal with that.”

Welford was also red carded for the hosts while the referee also handed out three bookings for each team.

Garlinge said: “Harvey Welford was unlucky to be sent off which seemed harsh, without seeing a video back.

“It wasn’t a game that warranted all of those cards but two teams were committed and picked up unfortunate goals in my opinion.”

Duncan’s goal came from the penalty spot to add to his impressive tally.

“He has hit some real good form,” said the joint boss.

“It’s a goal a game since we’ve come in, or thereabouts and it’s good to see Jake Embery on the scoresheet as well at the weekend, it would be good to get him into a bit of form.

“Two boys that can hopefully keep scoring until the end of the season so we can get out of this relegation scrap.”

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