Full-back Curtley Williams has led a rallying call for all associated with Lowestoft Town to dig deep and make sure the Trawlerboys qualify for the Ryman Premier play-offs again this season.
The Blues have had a mixed season so far but claimed their first victory of 2014 on Tuesday night when they beat East Thurrock United 3-0 at Crown Meadow.
That win leaves Lowestoft in seventh place and five points adrift of the play-off positions ahead of today's trip to ninth-placed Hendon.
'When it's going well it is easy for everyone to jump on the bandwagon and support us but I think you learn more about yourself when the going gets tough,' Williams said.
'The saying is 'when the going gets tough, the tough gets going' but it was just job done (on Tuesday), you move on to the next one. We've got a long way to go to fulfil our potential so I was happy but just moving on to the next one already.
'I think the most important thing is that we are not looking (at the table) at the end of the season. The important thing is we are looking at the next game and looking after ourselves from game to game, that's everything we do, with our recovery, nutrition, everything that we do away from here, because it is only part-time. All of that is massive.'
The former Ipswich Town trainee made his 50th appearance for Lowestoft on Tuesday night and has now started nine successive matches, out of 22 appearances overall so far this season.
'I feel a lot fitter this season because I am doing a lot more at home and in the gym,' Williams added. 'I felt like I could have played for another half an hour (against East Thurrock). We've got to get ourselves right for every game and away from the matches as well.'
The 23-year-old demonstrated his athletic ability in the 51st minute when he galloped forward from right-back to cross for Manny Osei, who turned nicely in the middle of the penalty area to fire into the bottom right-hand corner and put the Blues 2-0 ahead.
That followed a cracking header from top scorer Jake Reed in the 41st minute and was added to deep into injury time when Michael Frew made the score 3-0 in the 97th minute.
Williams added: 'I'm glad Manny scored and I got the assist because a lot of the time I don't get many assists and I should get more, and I should score more as well, so I'm pleased for Manny, and for the team as well because 3-0, one thing we have struggled to do this season is score goals.
'Hendo (Chris Henderson) has popped up and he has bailed us out a few times, and all three strikers scored (on Tuesday) with Michael Frew as well, so I'm delighted for Frewy as well, all three of them.
'Obviously Reedy is a fox in the box as well and if it comes to his head in the box I would back him to score and I would back him to beat the defender as well.
'When we went 2-0 up they changed their formation and asked the question of us and to be honest I think they gave it a good go.
'Once they were 2-0 down they had nothing to lose but when they changed the formation they changed us a few problems and we had to dig deep but that's when your character shows and that's when you find out who you are, who you really are.'
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