JAMES Quilter believes he was lucky to get away with just bruising after limping out of last week s game with Dorchester Town following Jules Emati-Emati s late challenge. It was feared the defender had suffered a break to his lower leg but thankfully for

JAMES Quilter believes he was lucky to get away with just bruising after limping out of last week's game with Dorchester Town following Jules Emati-Emati's late challenge.

It was feared the defender had suffered a break to his lower leg but thankfully for Quilter and the Saints that wasn't the case and he was able to take his place in the Saints' 1-0 win at Eastleigh on Saturday.

"As I went to kick the ball down the line the player followed through - I think he was bought on in the last five minutes and knew what he was doing, sent on to rough a few people up," said Quilter of the incident.

"When I got taken in Zac (Chandler, physio) thought there may be a fracture there, he was feeling around the injury and he sent for the ambulance just as a precaution really.

"Luckily enough it was just a compression of the bone and some severe bruising but after a few painkillers I was able to go out there today and join the lads in a good victory."

Drew Roberts got the only goal of the game at Eastleigh, netting in the 12th minute, and Quilter says the team was aware how important getting the first goal was going to be.

"The last few seasons I've played here they've been good at home, away from home especially at our place we've always matched them, we won 5-0 last season," he said.

"It is a tough place to come and the pitch wasn't the greatest but the lads dug in. We knew if we scored first they don't react too well to going a goal down. We managed to get the first goal and we hung on in there and got the victory."

The victory propelled City right into the middle of the play-offs' chasing pack and Quilter is hoping the team can surprise a few people.

"It's not an impossibility," the former Tottenham man said.

"To be honest, Steve's (Castle) always said take each game as it comes and go out and perform and if we can get a couple of victories we're in and around there.

"The league's quite close so you can win a couple of games and you can be near the play-offs and you can lose a few and you might be looking at a relegation battle but we're on a good winning streak and hopefully we can get another victory against Thurrock on Saturday and keep pushing.

"All the lads get on and everyone wants to win. There's a fighting spirit there regardless. We'll keep fighting until the end of the season and hopefully we can surprise some people.