DAVID Knight says he is determined to secure automatic promotion after he inspired Bowers & Pitsea to a 3-1 win against Mildenhall Town.

Knight netted his 15th goal of the season and also notched an assist as Bowers ensured they will finish in the play-off places come the end of the season as a minimum.

Adam Vyse and Callum Leahy also netted for Bowers on Saturday afternoon as main promotion rivals Potters Bar Town dropped points.

But with four matches of the season remaining, three wins will be enough to ensure promotion as runners up in the Isthmian North.

And that is what is motivating Knight ahead of the run-in.

“We want to finish in the automatic promotion places,” said Knight. “The play-offs are a great achievement but we don’t want that stress on a Wednesday night of trying to reach a final. It is two extra games and you don’t need that after a long season.

“We have been fighting for second place all season and we deserve promotion.

“We didn’t start off great in this game but we got the goal and that turned it in our favour.

“After they levelled, (manager) Rob (Small) said we needed to relax and take our time and the goal would come and it did four minutes after the break.

“It was great for Vysey to get his first for the club and from that point we were cruising and we deserved it after that.

“Potters Bar drew and that is good for us and we can control it now. We know it’s in our hands but if others drop points too then that helps us.”

And although Knight was pleased to take his tally to the season for 15, he said he would swap his goals for automatic promotion come the end of the month.

“It was a lucky break for me and I hit it well,” he said. “It turned the game for us and we were able to push on.

“I’ll take not scoring to get promoted, any day of the week.”