Wroxham boss Larter focuses on the bigger picture ahead of trip to play-off rivals Thurrock

Wroxham boss Stewart Larter is urging his side to remember there is still a long way to go in their Ryman North campaign, writes Thomas Crabb.

The high-flying Yachtsmen travel to fifth-placed Thurrock in the first of a challenging four-game schedule that sees them play three teams in the top six over the course of the next two weeks. And Larter admits that whilst he knows that a couple of poor results could alter his team's current elevated standing, he also believes that these next few games will not define Wroxham's season.

'At the minute we're in a really good position,' said Larter.

'However, a couple defeats for us and a couple of wins for the teams around us would quickly change that outlook. We've got Thurrock, Sudbury and Needham Market coming up – all who will be play-off contenders – and if we can take points off those teams then it will show how far we've come. I don't think it will be season defining though, we're only 22 games into a 46-game campaign and there's still a long way to go.'

Essex side Thurrock were early season promotion favourites, and despite a slow start - including a 4-1 hammering at the hands of the Yachtsmen in August – The Fleet have turned things around and occupy the final play-off position – although they are without a win in six matches.

'They are a really strong outfit; I thought that when we played them back at the start of the season,' added Larter, who welcomes back striker Nathan Stone this afternoon.

'As poor as their recent run has been they're still in the play-off positions and we're in for a tough game down there.'