Manager Mark Ducket has urged Eynesbury to use their first win of 2018 as a springboard for a fine second half of the United Counties League season.

Rovers triumphed 4-0 at lowly Sleaford Town in a Premier Division clash on Saturday - their first success since beating the same opponents in a pre-Christmas clash at Hall Road.

Rovers took command in Lincolnshire thanks to a first-half scoring spree which saw them find the net three times in just 11 minutes.

Leading scorer Dom Lawless set them on the way with his 33rd strike of a terrific campaign before Craig Smith quickly doubled the advantage.

Jordan Brown, who had hit the crossbar in the opening minute, then got in on the act before the hosts were reduced to 10 men with an hour of the contest still to go.

One further goal arrived in the second half when Brown struck again for Rovers and boss Ducket was delighted with the outcome.

“Sleaford are fighting at the bottom of the table, but they have picked up some good results at home so we’re delighted to come away with a comfortable win,” said Ducket.

“We played down the slope in the first half and we peppered them for the first 45 minutes. We were already 3-0 by the time Sleaford were reduced to 10 men, but they deserve plenty of credit for the way they battled after that.

“The conditions were difficult so to score four goals on the road and keep a second successive clean sheet is very pleasing. Hopefully we can now kick on.”

Eynesbury remain seventh in the Premier Division, but are only five points off second place. They feature in a cluster of eight sides covered by six points, but all of those above them have at least two games in hand.

Ducket’s side now face a series of three successive home matches against teams sitting in the bottom half of the standings - and he wants his players to take full advantage of them.

That run begins when they entertain Cogenhoe at Hall Road tomorrow night (Tuesday). A visit from Peterborough Northern Star follows this Saturday ahead of a date against Kirby Muxloe on January 27.

Ducket added: “It’s ridiculously close with so many teams covered by so few points. We’ve played more games than the teams above us, but that is offset by the fact a lot of them still have to play each other.

“We’re not worrying about the league table, though - we’re just focusing on putting in the right performances on the pitch to continue picking up points.

“We’ve finished in the top six for the last two seasons and have made no secret of the fact we want to be there again. This run of home games could be huge for us and hopefully we can come out of them with wins.”

Ducket could lose two more players from his already thin squad in the coming days.Matt Miles is still being chased by National League outfit Solihull Moors and defender Curtis Hartley is wanted by AFC Rushden & Diamonds.

Rovers missed out on the signing of central defender Rob Ruddy from higher-level Mildenhall Town. He opted to join Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division side Histon instead.