REDHILL boss Mike Maher has challenged his side to break into the top three of the Sussex County League Division One by February.
Their 3-1 win over fellow promotion hopefuls Hassocks last weekend was very pleasing on the eye for the manager, who has the current league leaders in his sights.
"It was tremendous and it's been a massive few days for us," he said.
"We were 11 points behind Peacehaven at the beginning of the week and we're only six behind them now and we've still got to be play them, so I'm very, very pleased at where we're at.
"Watching the way in which we won against Hassocks was outstanding.
"They came and set up to just counter-attack us, but they're a good side and the positive thing for us is they'll go to the other top sides and make it very hard to be broken down."
And Maher singled out youngster John Trotter, who has had to bide his time for a starting position, but put in a fantastic display to earn the manager's praise.
"John has been unlucky not to have been playing yet because he's got Sean Kelly and the club captain in his position," he said.
"On Saturday he was a different class. He's only a young lad and he knows he's got part of his game to improve, but I could not have been more impressed with him."
Redhill thrashed this Saturday's opponents Chichester City 5-2 on the opening day of the season, but Maher is not taking them lightly.
"On paper, people will say it's got to be three points," he said.
"A win for them over us would make their season and help them kick on, because they're not that far off from safety either.
"They haven't changed too many personnel from the start of the season, but it's going to be a different challenge."
And the boss believes that once January is out of the way, the league table will start to take shape ahead of the run-in.
"There are a few teams around us on similar points that have played a few more games than us, but I think after the end of January, there's going to be a clear divide in the table," he said.
"I think the top six will be very clear and we would like to be in the top three come February.
"The next four or five games for us are very important."
