LEYTON boss Troy Townsend is relishing the prospect of taking on promotion-chasing local rivals Waltham Abbey this week, in a game dubbed by the manager as the ‘benchmark test’ of their recent revival.

The Lilywhites made it two wins and two clean sheets in a row thanks to another brace from Robert Carter at the weekend as they despatched a struggling Maldon Town side on Saturday.

The only blemish on the new coaching partnership of Townsend and Tony Ievoli is a narrow defeat to Redbridge two weeks ago. That has been their only defeat in their last eight games, and with spirits considerably higher in the camp, the gaffer is now gunning for the Abbotts on their home turf, which has been turned into something of a fortress in the last few months.

“This game will go a long way to showing how far we’ve come,” said the Leyton manager. “We’re unbeaten at home since December 6 and nobody is going to find it easy coming here.

“It will be a very good benchmark to measure ourselves by since this resurgence we’ve been enjoying. It will show where we are and what we need to do to get to where we want to be.”

Leyton have brought in experienced full-back Aaron Freeman from Concord Rangers to bolster their squad, while the injured Michael Bakare, who has been in exceptional form recently, will face a late battle to make the game.

Abbey head into the game in good nick themselves, as they are back in the promotion mix after a 1-0 win at Ilford at the weekend thanks to a first-half Aaron Gayle strike, while they have also lost just once in their last eight games.

Meanwhile, Waltham Forest are hot on the heels of the teams above them, representing safety, after they earned a valuable point at mid-table Tilbury on Saturday.

Olewale Ojelabi’s side face a tricky home game against Great Wakering Rovers this weekend.

Elsewhere, in the Premier Division Harlow Town were beaten by league leaders Staines Town at Rams Gorse.

The team were narrowly beaten 3-2 against Maidstone United on Tuesday, plunging them into further trouble.

The team will play host to Billericay this week.

In the Essex Olympian senior division one, Buckhurst Hill boosted their promotion chances with a 5-0 demolition of Roydon, while in the premier division Epping were beaten 2-0 by Manford Way.

Leytonstone eventually lost a thrilling contest to Hutton 4-3 in their bid for survival.