Wealdstone manager Gordon Bartlett has applauded everyone at the club for helping them climb towards safety but insists the side are not clear of danger yet.

After failing to win their first nine Conference South games this season, Wealdstone have rallied superbly and moved up to 14th after four successive league wins.

Bartlett said: “I always had belief in the group and was confident that we would turn our form around with the character we have in the squad. It’s proved the case although we are not out of the woods yet.

“The whole mentality has changed now. It’s not just the players that deserve credit though. It’s also down to the management, the coaches, the board and fans who have all pulled together. We were going through a difficult time but we have dug deep.”

Wealdstone’s latest victory came on Saturday after Joe Turner fired in a 25-yard winner in the fourth minute of injury time. The 1-0 win at Bath City was their fourth clean sheet in a row. Bartlett said: “We have lost matches in last minutes this season so to get a win so late on was a great result for us and ensured it was a good trip back home.

“The morale has been very good and everyone is buying into it. We have kept six clean sheets in seven and that’s two defeats in 14 now.

“The spirit in the camp is absolutely brilliant. The defence has taken a lot of credit recently but everyone deserves praise because we have defended from the front.”

The Stones boss added: “Both teams seemed to cancel each other out and Jonathan North only had a few saves to make. It was a game of very few chances.

“But we had that resilient determination which our defensive record shows and that always gives you a chance in games.”

The Stones will have to play the rest of this season without midfielder Tom Hickey due to a serious knee injury.

“The massive disappointment is Tom. He needs an operation on his anterior cruciate ligament which will keep him out until next season.

“Losing him just a few weeks after Connor Calcutt suffered a broken leg is a big blow for two talented players.”

Wealdstone start their hectic festive programme at home to Sutton United on Boxing Day before travelling to second-placed Bromley on Sunday.

Bartlett said: “We have real momentum going into Christmas.

“Our number one target is to get to 49 points. We are going to remain positive and if we could win eight points from the next four that would be a good return.”

The Stones boss is surprised to see Sutton languishing around the relegation zone and believes they have failed to live up to expectations this year.

“We are playing a Sutton team that has totally underachieved,” Bartlett said. “ They were well fancied this season and have very good players. The league table doesn’t lie though and they are down there for a reason.”