The players’ have stepped up recently and I can’t ask much more than to aim to finish this season on a high, says Punjab United boss Chipie Sian

PUNJAB UNITED manager Chipie Sian says he has gone through a tough test this season.

The Gravesend-based outfit have secured their Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division status for another season after collecting 31 points from their 30 league outings and have climbed up into fifteenth-place in the table after three wins in their last four games.

Punjab United have beaten Tunbridge Wells (1-0), Lordswood (2-1), before losing to a single goal to Holmesdale but bounced back with a 6-1 win at K Sports last weekend.

Sian takes his side to seventh-placed side Erith Town tomorrow.

“We know they are a good side and will be another tough test for us,” said Sian.

“We are playing some good football again. We’ve picked up some valuable points on the road and at home, three wins out of five has helped us climb up a few places up the table.

“It’s been a real tough test this season and I won’t make any excuses.  As a manager we all go through difficult times and when you’re down at the bottom end of the table and performances are not great you do question yourself.

“It’s a lonely place when things are not going your way and sometimes you’ve just got to stick in there and believe in what you are doing and hope we come out of it.

“The players’ have stepped up recently and I can’t ask much more than to aim to finish this season on a high.

“We’ve got a lot of games coming up, starting with Erith Town tomorrow and a trip to Welling Town on Monday night so we are hoping to keep our good run going and to pick up points to move up the table.”

Adam Woodward’s men, meanwhile, were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Deal Town last time out.

Lordswood (16 points from 31 games) and Tower Hamlets (12 points from 32 games) are both inside the relegation zone and both sides meet each other tomorrow.

Rusthall (20 points from 31 games) are outside the drop zone in a three-way fight for survival.

Meanwhile, Welling Town's home Monday night games against Punjab United (28 March), Rusthall (4 April) and Canterbury City (11 April) have been switched to Chatham Town's ground at Maidstone Road.

Erith Town  v  Punjab United
Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division
Saturday 26 March 2022
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Erith Sports Stadium, Avenue Road, Erith, Kent DA8 3AT