GREAT Wakering Rovers’ captain Lewis Sparrow says it was a “massive relief” to win their first home game of the season.

Rovers ran out 1-0 winners against Heybridge Swifts at Burroughs Park on Saturday, having gone their opening seven home games without registering a win And the skipper says getting their first home three points was a big moment in the Ryman North newcomers’ season.

“Getting the win was a massive relief for us,” said the skipper. “We have played well at home this season and have been unlucky with some results, so it was nice that we picked up the points we deserved against Heybridge.

“They didn’t force our keeper into action and that was because the team defended really well as a unit, with all the players chipping in.”

Rovers have not lost only one of their last six league matches, and Sparrow says confidence in the group is high.

“We are on a nice run at the moment,” he said. “And once that starts you want to keep it going as the momentum really does spur a team on.

“We have kept two clean sheets in a row in the league and to only lose one game in six is nice for us, especially after the start we’ve had.

“It has also taken us a while to get to grips with the new lads coming in over the summer but we are gelling as a unit now and the results are clear to see on the pitch.”

Rovers’ next two games are against Ware in the FA Trophy on Saturday before they host Wroxham the following Tuesday.

And Sparrow, like his centre-back partner Nick Skelton, believes these are both winnable games.

“We have done well against sides in mid-table in recent weeks and that needs to continue. We lost 3-2 at Ware earlier in the season and did more than enough to win that game, but I think we have come on a lot since then.

“A few wins will move us up the league and we will be able to focus on looking up rather than down.”