Kingstonian midfielder Karl Beckford believes the side’s six-match unbeaten streak means they can be taken seriously as play-off contenders.

Boss Alan Dowson watched his side claim a first ever victory over Canvey Island on Saturday, before following it up with a 2-1 win over Horsham.

The pair of results have lifted Ks out of the Ryman League Premier Division relegation zone into mid-table and sees them unbeaten in September thus far.

Beckford’s first ever headed goal from man of the match Matt Gray’s centre, proved to be the winner on Monday night and puts his side in fine shape to extend that run at Hendon, when they meet in the FA Cup second qualifying round at the weekend.

And the former Carshalton Athletic man, one of nine new faces Dowson has brought to Kingsmeadow in the last month, believes it could be the start of something special.

“If we can keep this run going we’ve got every chance of being up and around the play-offs come the end of the season,” he said.

“When I was at Carshalton last season, we came within a penalty shoot-out of reaching the Blue Square South last season, and I would say the team we have here now is as good if not better than that.

“You need a bit of luck and a nice little cup run can bring a bit more confidence and glamour to the place, but the league is our priority. We are playing well at the moment and long may that continue.”

Dowson added former QPR trainee John Fletcher and ex-Woking man Joel Legister to his ranks last week as he bids to maintain his side’s winning momentum.

Ks started their campaign in dreadful fashion as they notched four straight defeats - conceding 19-goals in the process - and Beckford believes the Kingsmeadow chief has to take full credit for the turn around.

“There hasn’t really been anytime to bond with the other players. It has just been a case of getting on the training ground and getting organised,” added the 24-year-old.

“We have blended really well and really quickly, and we you can see the affect it has had. The players they have replaced are not bad players, there just needed to be an injection of confidence.

“The manager has to be given a lot of credit for that because he identified the players and got them on board.”

Kingstonian’s next three games: Sept 26 Hendon (FAC, a), Oct 3 Margate (h), 10 Cray Wanderers (h).