Hawks ‘in a good place’ as they begin run of four National League South games in 12 days

Leon Chambers-Parillon on his debut for Hawks at Ebbsfleet. He is available again for Tuesday's trip to Welling United. Picture: Kieron Louloudis

A trip to struggling Welling United on Tuesday night starts a run of four league matches in the space of 12 days up to January 2.

The visit to the Wings is followed by a testing run of games against three teams sitting in the top five.

Paul Doswell's troops, currently seventh with games in hand on all the teams above them, are at fourth-placed Hungerford on Boxing Day before Dorking Wanderers - in third - and fifth-placed Eastbourne Borough travel to Westleigh Park.

But Walton insists Hawks are not fazed by that run and are ready to show the division they can be in the title picture come the end of the season.

They have won four of their five fixtures - drawing the other - since back-to-back defeats at lowly Marine in the FA Cup and Hemel Hempstead.

And Walton says a 'statement' victory at Ebbsfleet earlier this month stands them in good stead for the tough festive period.

‘Christmas always is (a key period), especially this year because we’re a few more games behind,' he admitted.

‘Normally at Christmas time you get a real feel for the table, but this year when you go into January there will still be a lot of games left.

‘We said when we played Ebbsfleet, who I believe will be in the top four come the end of the season, that we need to start making statements, that we aim to be up there as well, and I think we did that.

‘But we’ve got to play all the teams as if they’re going to win the league.

‘No matter whether you’re playing Dorking or anyone, you’ve got to play against every team as if they’re going to win the league.

‘If we’re not at it in any game then we’ll get beat, it’s as simple as that.

‘You’ve got to be on it every week and in every game to be successful.

‘We don’t take any game differently, we treat every game the same whether we’re playing top or bottom or the table.

‘We’re in a good place at the minute going forward.'

Oxford United loanee Leon Chambers-Parillon will be available again having been cup-tied for the FA Trophy victories over Bracknell Town and Braintree. He had appeared for Biggleswade earlier in the season.

Chambers-Parillon made his debut in the 3-0 win at Ebbsfleet and is currently on a work experience loan until the end of January.

Walton added: ‘‘We’ve got the league to focus on for a few weeks, that’ll be nice.

‘We’re in a good place going into Christmas and we’re starting to get a momentum going.'

Hawks will move up to fifth place if they win at Park View Road, five points behind second-placed Dartford (with two games in hand) and seven points adrift of surprise leaders St Albans (with one game in hand).