LITTLE Oakley manager Matt Carmichael is delighted with his side's free-scoring form - and says he will always put a heavy emphasis on attacking.

The Acorns, of Thurlow Nunn League first division south, are in tremendous form and notched another victory - their third in a row and ninth in 12 outings - by comfortably seeing off May and Baker 4-0 on Saturday.

They also put four past Braintree Town Reserves the previous weekend and other recent goal hauls have come against the likes of Brightlingsea Regent Reserves, Lopes Tavares and Benfleet.

Carmichael says it's great to see and believes there has been considerable improvement at both ends of the pitch.

"We're scoring lots of goals and I love that," said the Oakley boss.

"As a former striker, I always put a heavy emphasis on attacking.

"That's always been the case and it's natural for me to want my teams to play that way.

"But we've made real progress at both ends of the pitch because we're also far more solid in defence.

"(Keeper) Dan Joyce had one comfortable save to make at the weekend.

"But aside from that, he had very little to do because he was so well protected by the boys in front of him.

"Our full-backs were very good and the centre-halves won everything in the air.

"It was a comfortable victory and the scoreline didn't flatter us at all.

"We're quietly going about our business and are determined to finish the season as strongly as possible.

"We want to stay in the top eight and if we can do that, it'll be a big achievement.

"We'll keep working hard.

"We want to do things properly off the pitch and show our ambition on it."

Oakley, sixth in the table, have no game this weekend.

Carmichael believes it has come at a good time and will give some of his walking wounded a free weekend to recover.

"It's a timely break," he said.

"Normally when you're winning you just want to keep playing, to keep that momentum going.

"But we've got a few players carrying niggly injuries and it'll do them good to have a rest."

Oakley lost 3-0 to Bostik League high-fliers Maldon and Tiptree in the Tolleshunt D'Arcy Memorial Cup semi-finals on Tuesday night.

Elsewhere in midweek, BRANTHAM ATHLETIC conceded a stoppage-time winner as they lost 1-0 at Thurlow Nunn League premier division leaders Histon.

The Imps also lost 1-0 last weekend, at home to Gorleston.

They are away to Whitton United on Saturday.