KIRKLEY & Pakefield boss Paul Tong believes the club's willingness to blood their youngsters in the first team will stand them in good stead for the future.

The Royals halted a run of three successive defeats with a 0-0 draw at Walsham-le-Willows last weekend and Tong believes by putting their faith in youth the club can go from strength to strength.

'The club had a change of course and we are now trying to re-establish ourselves with a young side,' he said.

'Hopefully, everyone at the club can appreciate that and be patient and I'm sure they will be.

'Players like Chris Henderson and Nathan Stone have gone on to other clubs so we must be doing something right here. The club has had some quality players in the past and will do in the future as long as we stick with the plan that we've got.

'The biggest problem with young players is consistency but we are getting there and all the players are committed and willing to learn.'

Tong acknowleged that one problem could be other teams looking to take his youngsters elsewhere with the former Yarmouth chief confirming a club had made an approach for two of his players this week.

'We have had an approach for two of our players this week but we will wait and see on that one,' said Tong. 'We are bringing players through that other clubs want at their clubs so we must be doing something right as a club. That's a testament to the youth policy the club has had over the years.'

Tong was pleased his side are starting to show signs of the form they displayed at the start of the season in claiming a point at Walsham.

'We rode our luck at times but we worked extremely hard,' he said.

'We could have had a penalty given against us but in the second half Kyle Baker had a goal disallowed so these sorts of things even themselves out.

'Ryan De Coteau was outstanding for us and Craig Roberts seems to be getting his game together which is good news for us. It's always nice as a manager to get a clean sheet.'

High-flying Wisbech come to Walmer Road tomorrow (kick-off 3pm) and Tong insists he will not set his side out to merely contain the Fenmen.

He said: 'We will set out to have a right go at them. We tried to take the game to Walsham and we will do the same against Wisbech. We will be under pressure for periods of the game but we've all just got to do our jobs right.'