Rudd's side are finishing the current campaign with a flourish and moved level with fifth-placed Whittlesey after beating them 5-2 on Saturday.

Player-boss Rudd has a simple solution for the upturn in fortunes and reckons he knows what it takes to continue the improvement next season.

Rudd said: "We have brought four lads in since February and they are all quality players in Graham Morris, Steve Phillips, Gareth Sanderson and Mark Randall.

"The simple reason we are finishing the season better than we started is the fact we have a better side now.

"A top six finish has always been the target and we look like getting there now. I intend to sign two or three new lads in the summer but I certainly won't need to make massive changes."

Phillips bagged a brace on Saturday with Morris and substitutes Matt Leftley and Michael Sealey also netting.

The season can't end soon enough for outgoing Whittlesey boss Lee Minett, who hands over the reins to current Hampton manager Paul Humphries in the summer.

Whittlesey were once again without a number of key players but they still didn't deserve to be on the receiving end of such a heavy scoreline.

Minett said: "We had some lads out who let us know and others who didn't bother.

"But we fielded the players who turn up every week and give their best for the club – and as a manager you can't ask for anymore than that and I thought they did really well.

"But I have to admit I will be pleased when the season is over because it has tailed off badly in the last few weeks."

Simon Acton and Rob Speechley scored the Whittlesey goals, while keeper Daniel Fletcher had a hectic afternoon.

He played for the first team in a 2pm kick-off and then went between the sticks for Whittlesey Reserves later in the afternoon – and he ended up on the losing side in both games.