Lydd boss Mickey Doyle says his side must be better in both boxes to maintain their promotion challenge.

Town return to action at home to FC Elmstead this Saturday (3pm) after a weekend off.

They’re third in Southern Counties East Division 1, two points behind Snodland and Larkfield & New Hythe, having played three more games than both title rivals.

Teams below them also have games in hand, so there’s plenty of work to do to secure at least a play-off place.

Lydd conceded two poor goals at AFC Whyteleafe in their last game and while they battled back to draw, Doyle wants to see an improvement at either end of the pitch.

“We need to be better in both boxes to make sure we stay in the hunt,” said Doyle.

“Snodland and Larkfield have games in hand but we can only concentrate on ourselves.

“There’s no point worrying about them. Whatever is going to happen with those two is going to happen.

“We just have to make sure we put ourselves in the best possible position if they do drop points and to do that we’ve got to be better in both boxes.

“People don’t realise how tight it is, especially in the play-off places, because quite a few teams have games in hand.

“Is it better to have points on the board or games in hand? I can’t answer that at the moment.

“Sometimes if you’ve got games in hand you get on a roll and the momentum is with you, or teams get nervy knowing there’s extra pressure on them to win because they can’t afford to drop points.

“At the same time, when you’ve got points on the board, you’re looking over your shoulder knowing you’ve got to win so teams don’t catch you, which is hard as well.”