Boss Steve Lovell insists Hastings United would be a top three team had their current defence been in place at the start of the season.
Mitchell Sherwood scored after 25 minutes to give United a 1-0 win at Chatham to put them 16th in the eastern division.
Lovell said: "Our back four was absolutely brilliant and had we had them and our goalkeeper at the start of the season, we would be a top three, not a bottom five team."
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