HOLLAND FC manager Rob Batten says the club are on an “upward curve” – and is confident they can challenge for honours this season.

The Eastcliff-based side have made a strong start to their Thurlow Nunn League division one south campaign – brushing aside Braintree Town Reserves 3-0 on Saturday before drawing 1-1 at neighbours Harwich and Parkeston on Tuesday.

The latter fixture was watched by a crowd of nearly 300 and unbeaten Holland will be hoping to extend their winning run, and put more points on the board, when they host Newbury Forest at their new W&S Scaffolding Community Stadium on Saturday (3pm).

Boss Batten is feeling upbeat and said: “I’m confident we’re going to do well this season.

“We’ve got good, technically-gifted players and that’s half the battle, because you’re only as good as your players.

“We’re on an upward curve and doing well.

“There’s a lot of people at the club who have put in a lot of hard work and it’s beginning to bear fruit.

“Now we’ve just got to keep picking up three points.

“Certainly if someone had offered me four from two games, a home victory, four goals and only one conceded, I’d have taken it.

“It was a really good game on Tuesday. I enjoyed it.

“Having been ahead, it was frustrating not to see the game out but overall it was a fair result.

“Harwich worked very hard to stop us playing.

“We didn’t play as well we did at the weekend but that was down to them and their work-rate.

“Harwich played with a lot of effort and desire and, at times, I don’t think we dealt with it particularly well.

“When we got the ball down in the first half we opened them up a bit but in the second – even though I didn’t think we were in any trouble – I didn’t feel we had a stranglehold on the game.

“It was more of a midfield battle than end-to-end.”

Billy Wales’ composed finish looked to have put the visitors on course for their second victory of the season.

However, Jordan Heath slotted home midway through the second period to ensure a deserved share of the spoils for the Shrimpers.

Wales’ opener came after Joe Martin’s pass put him clear deep in the Harwich area.

With the hosts appealing for offside, he coolly placed his shot inside the bottom right-hand corner, beyond keeper Sam Felgate.

Harwich kept battling, though, and grabbed their leveller when Heath guided home a low shot from the right of the area, after being picked out by substitute and former FC Clacton player Luke Barnard.

“Harwich were possibly a bit more energetic but overall it was a fair result,” added Batten.

“They’re buzzing at the moment and it’s not an easy place to come, but we dug out a good point.

“We’re trying to play more football this season and hopefully if we keep winning our home games and pick up points on the road, we’ll be there or thereabouts.

“We’ve got to keep scrapping games out and this result will help us learn how to do that.”