Lowestoft Town director of football Craig Fleming is looking for his side to make a fast start in the Ryman League Premier Division – but insists it won't be a catastrophe if they don't.

The Trawlerboys have started impressively in both their Premier Division campaigns so far but on both occasions a blip in the new year has seen them playing catch-up in the run-in.

Fleming and the rest of the management team are fully focused on their opener at Whitehawk later this month but has reminded his players there will be 41 other battles ahead in the quest for promotion.

'Everyone is working towards that first game of the season but the reality is that it is a long old season,' said Fleming, whose side cantered to a 2-0 win over Needham Market on Tuesday night thanks to goals from Sam Gaughran and Jack Defty. 'For two years now we've been in the box seat early on and February has cost us. It's nice to get a good start but it's not the be all and end all.

'It is a grind in this league, travelling lots of miles. We will look to get going and get a good start.'

Fleming admitted he has looked at exactly why his side's promotion ambitions have faltered after Christmas in previous campaigns.

The Blues have been boosted by an impressive recruitment drive over the summer which has added a depth to the squad that wasn't there last season.

Fleming also hopes the fixtures fall kindly for his players – expecting three points from a trip to Hastings on a Tuesday night is a big ask when you consider the travelling involved.

'I don't think anything like that (February's dip in form) is coincidental. The previous season it was the January – what doesn't help us is the geography of the place, if we get a couple of postponements it means we are playing Tuesday night games in far away places.

'It's a big ask for the lads, they are working in the morning and then getting on the bus and travelling to Brighton for a night game. It's difficult at this level. I've certainly been racking my brains about training schedules and things like that – I'm sure we will be all right.'

Fleming will be using the friendly at home to Dulwich Hamlet tomorrow (kick-off 3pm) to fine-tune his starting XI for the first game of the season.

'We will really start to nail things down now and work towards that first game of the season,' added the 40-year-old.