Wealdstone manager Gordon Bartlett insists he still has faith in his players mounting a promotion push despite a winless start to the new year.

The Stones only lost five league games in 2012 but Bartlett’s side started January with consecutive defeats and have not won for four matches.

Bartlett said: “I have trusted these players for the last two years and they have taken the club to sixth and fourth place in the last few years so why should that change now?

“It is important that the players believe in themselves and they remain focused on our target which is to reach the play-offs.”

Wealdstone were facing the prospect of three defeats in a row after falling behind at Hastings United on Tuesday night but the visitors deservedly equalised through Alex Dyer in the second half.

It was an important point for the Stones having lost 2-0 at Kingstonian at the weekend.

Bartlett was encouraged by the fightback and felt his side were much improved from the one which limply lost on Saturday.

The manager commented: “Once Kingstonian scored after an hour, our application was found wanting. That performance wasn’t acceptable. It wasn’t a case of the opposition outplaying us but more about our own inadequacies.

“But the good news is our reaction to going 1-0 down to Hastings was positive and I thought the performance warranted the three points.

“It is not just about results. Over the course of the season if our performances are where we want them to be then this will take us to our target.”

The Stones will be without striker Richard Jolly, due to his stag weekend, on Saturday when they host Bognor Regis Town. The visitors are just two places and one point off Wealdstone in the Ryman Premier table.

Bartlett said: “Bognor are a very good side and they play football in the right way. But if we want to make something of the season then these are the sorts of games we need to win.