By Matt Harris

An exit from the FA Vase was naturally disappointing, but football is a fast-moving business and Tunbridge Wells’ players and management have had very little time to dwell on what could have been. Instead, they face an enormous month which will likely establish the club’s credentials for the manager’s coveted top-three position (or better).

A run of three home games start on Saturday when Fisher visit Culverden, followed by table-topping Herne Bay and then second-placed Erith Town. A trip to Canterbury City (third) follows, before February ends with a visit to Erith & Belvedere (fourth).

“We've spoken privately about targets and goals, and the next five games are going to be a massive test,” first team boss Martin Larkin told www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk ahead of the bumper month.

“Fisher’s league position is probably a false one; Herne Bay are an exceptional club at our level; and we have enjoyed some good, tough games with Erith Town over the last year. I haven't seen too much of Canterbury City, but we respect their league position. Erith & Belvedere completes a quite incredible month in which we meet each of the current top four clubs.

“It’s going to come down to how we respond - if the players want to achieve the targets they’ve agreed that we can and should be achieving, then we will need to perform at very high levels of both work rate and quality.”

And therein lies some of the positives that Larkin took from the run in the Vase (Saturday’s defeat included). “The experience of playing in a game of that magnitude was good for all involved - the players and the coaches.

“We take great confidence from the way we played, and we ultimately went out to a very good side. We've now got to replicate the intensity we showed and apply it week-in-week-out in the Kent League. If we can do that, we are going to win more than we lose.

Larkin is aware that there will have been first-time supporters through the gate last week, and hopes that for those who return, they will not find the performance they saw to have been a one-off.

“I have a hunger to bring days like the St Ives game regularly to Culverden. The atmosphere was fantastic and the changing room reflected that before the game. I’d like to thank our support for last Saturday who really made the day. We hope that any first-timers saw enough from the boys that they want to return. This is an exciting time at the club and the more fans we can get through the gate, the better the players respond.”

There were some notable absentees from the side, with key payers like Carl Cornell, Tom Davey and Keelan Mooney all out injured - a situation that won’t be changing for the next few weeks. Cornell and Davey are still struggling with ankle injuries and are probably out for about a month and Mooney has had a knee scan and awaits an operation. He may return for the last month of the season.

Nevertheless, Larkin doesn’t feel the need to rush out and strengthen his squad in spite of the magnitude of the fixtures ahead. On the contrary, he has full confidence in the players at his disposal.

“Hooley, Tom and Keelan are three massive players for us, but those who are playing at the moment are doing a great job. The boys are settled, and they have built the platform we have been aiming to build - so now, starting with these next five very tough matches, they will be given the opportunity to build it up further and hopefully move us up to the next level in our plans.”