Adrian Forbes is convinced the Trawlerboys can mount another promotion challenge in the Ryman League Premier Division this season.

Forbes hit the only goal of the game against a stubborn Horsham side on Tuesday evening to lift Town up from sixth to third in the table, four points behind leaders Billericay.

It was a night when determination and patience brought its rewards for a team whose promotion dream was finally ended in a thrilling play-off final last season. This time, Forbes believes Town can go one better.

'I think we showed last year what we were capable of and we were unlucky to miss out on the final day, through the play-offs,' said Forbes.

'But I am quietly confident that with the squad that Craig (Fleming), Ady (Gallagher) and Mick (Chapman) have put together we will be there or thereabouts again.

'In an ideal situation you want to be top and not have to go through the play-offs again, but if that is what has to be done to get promoted then so be it.

'But there is a long way to go between now and then. We will drop more points and the teams that are above us will drop more points and it will even itself out as the season goes on, but as long as, come May, we are up there that is all that we are worried about.'

Town travel to fifth-from-bottom Aveley this weekend, but Forbes insists league positions count for little - as was proved by Horsham, who belied their position of the league's bottom club.

'Those teams that are down there are obviously fighting for their lives so we have to forget about that, concentrate on our own game and if we concentrate on our own game we will overpower most teams in this league,' he said.

'But it is a case of when we are playing against teams down at the bottom, they up their game against us - and we have got to up our game another 10, 15 per cent to steamroller those teams and if we do that, hopefully by the end of the season, we will be where we deserve to be.

'A lot of people are now aware of what Lowestoft Town have got to offer and the players that we have got in this squad and teams want to come and try and take a point at least from us.

'They will set their stall out as Horsham did, a defensive format, and it is down to us to break them down.'

It was Forbes' goal, on 59 minutes, which settled it in Lowestoft's favour, despite claims of handball.

'I won the ball fairly,' said Forbes. 'There was a lot of work to be done once I got on the ball. I think the centre-back took a timely slip and it was just down to me to get into the box and take the opportunity offered. Luckily for me I put it into the roof of the net.'

Managerless Aveley let a two goal lead slip to draw at Cray Wanderers last weekend. The Millers' experienced former Watford player Micah Hyde is in temporary charge.