Redbridge joint manager Dave Ross has challenged his team to be “among the chasers for promotion” at the end of the Christmas period and believes he has the squad capable of capitalising on the congested fixture list.

The Motormen beat Brightlingsea Regent 2-1 in the third round of the Essex County Cup on Tuesday night thanks to an injury-time winner from Steve Good.

Daniel Charge had initially put Redbridge ahead but the game looked destined to end a draw after 90 minutes when Regent equalised late on.

Ross, who shares managerial duties with Ricky Eaton, says scoring a winner at the death gave his players an “extra buzz” and he’s hoping they carry that positivity into a busy festive calendar.

The Motormen are currently tenth in Ryman North and five points off the play-off spots.

“Every game matters at this time of the year,” Ross said. “It’s a really important time and it’s important to get points from the Christmas period because the games comes thick and fast and by January 1 there will be a bigger insight into who will be in the play-offs.

“We want to push up the table a bit and make sure we’re among the chasers for promotion after Christmas – that’s the target. We think we’ve got the squad to do it and it starts on Saturday against Romford.”

Romford are currently 20th in the table but after Redbridge were held to a frustrating 2-2 draw against 22nd-placed Brentwood Town last weekend, Ross insists his team will be taking nothing for granted.

“Romford are a good side,” he added. “They work very hard and are never easy to beat so we won’t underestimate them.

“Looking at the table you’d hope we’d get three points but we would have said that last week at Brentwood so we won’t be taking them lightly.”

Waltham Forest suffered a humiliating 10-1 defeat away to Dereham Town on Saturday to remain rooted to the bottom of the table.

The home side scored six goals in the first half through Kyle Downes, a Ryan Hawkins hat-trick, Nicholas Howell and Oliver Willis.

Dereham didn’t let up in the second period either as two from Daniel Beaumont, one from Craig Bussens and a second from Howell took the score into double figures.

Chinedu McKenzie scored a consolation for Forest in the last minute.

The Stags will be hoping for major improvement when they host Witham Town on Saturday.

Waltham Abbey dropped to 14th in the table after a 3-0 home defeat to Needham Market.

The Abbotts were behind inside just two minutes as Ryan Crisp put the visitors ahead and the task was made even harder for Paul Wickenden’s men before half-time when Kemal Izzet converted a penalty to make it 2-0.

Ian Westlake rounded off the scoring in the second half.

Abbey face another tough test on Saturday when they visit fifth-placed Thurrock.