Brackley Town boss Jon Brady says his side have got a ‘great opportunity’ to finish in the top five of the Blue Square Bet North this season.
And he’s hoping the Saints can take the next step towards a minimum of a play-off spot when they take on title favourites Chester this weekend.
Newly-promoted Brackley currently sit seven points adrift of the table-topping Seals in third place, but have a game in hand.
They can narrow the gap with a win at St James’ Park this weekend and Brady says there is no pressure on his bunch ahead of the showdown.
He said: “We didn’t think we’d be in this position so there’s no pressure on us.
“But there’s no pressure on them either because they are a bit clear. They’ve had a great start and even if they lose and we win our game in hand they will still be sitting pretty.”
Brady had originally set a target of 50 points this season as he looked for Brackley to consolidate after winning the Southern League Premier Division last season.
But he has seen his pre-season aims altered by a stunning start to the campaign, which has seen the Saints win 13 of their 16 league games to date.
“Stepping up you have your doubts as to whether the squad will come together and work hard enough to be at the top,” said Brady. “But now, 16 games in, I believe we should be there and we’ve got a great opportunity to perform against one of the league’s better sides this weekend.
“I always reassess my aims throughout the season and having played against nearly all of the sides, I believe we have a real opportunity to finish in the top five.”
Brackley could have strengthened their grip on a play-off place with a win at Workington last weekend, but saw the game postponed at the last minute.
After a long trek up north the day before the game, Brady’s bunch were angered after the home club called it off before they arrived at the stadium at 11am on the Saturday.
“We felt a bit let down by Workington,” explained Brady. “The game should have been on but it was called off at 10.45am, 15 minutes before we arrived.
“We couldn’t understand why the game was off because the pitchfork was going into the ground easily.
“But when you read the local paper and see they had eight injuries you can perhaps see why...”
CORBY TOWN
PLUMMER WARY OF STRUGGLERS HINCKLEY
Chris Plummer is taking the cautious approach as Corby Town prepare to take on Hinckley United at Steel Park on Saturday, writes JON DUNHAM.
The Knitters have been blighted by financial problems in the Blue Square Bet North and sit at the bottom of the table with just one win to their name so far.
And in recent weeks they have become the league’s whipping boys having suffered 14 successive defeats in the Blue Square Bet North.
And, in their last five losses, they have conceded 25 goals while scoring none.
It should make Saturday’s clash a home banker.
But Plummer is staying wary as his team look to bounce back from two successive 2-1 defeats, the latest of which was at Bishop’s Stortford last weekend.
“If you look at it on paper then it is a game we should be winning, especially at home,” Plummer said. “But things are never that simple and anyone who is getting ahead of themselves should remember the run of form we had right at the start of the season.
“We have turned it around and it shows it can be done.
“I have said all along that anyone can beat anyone in this league and I stand by that.
“So we have to be wary of the opposition in every game.
“But Hinckley have clearly had their problems this season and they are rooted to the bottom of the table.
“We have to make sure we prepare properly and produce a good performance. If we can play to our potential then we have a good chance of getting a positive result. But we certainly can’t take anything for granted.”
Plummer, meanwhile, says the club will continue to assess the ankle injury picked up by defender Stefan Galinski in last weekend’s defeat at Bishop’s Stortford.
Saturday is due to be the centre-half’s final game of a three-month loan from Derby County, although Plummer is hoping a new deal can be agreed with the npower Championship club in January.
“Stefan went back to see the medical team at Derby and we will continue to assess him day-by-day,” Plummer said.
“It is his last game, although we hope something can be agreed with Derby to get him back here.
“I hope he is fit because he deserves a good send-off. His first game was my first game as manager and he has been a key player for us in turning things around.
Corby will also have a final check on Jason Crowe (illness) and Liam Hughes (dead leg) ahead of the weekend clash.
The Steelmen’s trip to Harrogate Town in the Blue Square Bet North, which was due to be on Tuesday next week, has been postponed with their opponents facing an FA Cup second-round replay at Hastings.
KETTERING TOWN
POPPIES BOSS DOYLE STILL LOOKING FOR EXPERIENCED HELP
Kettering Town were able to hold a rare training session on Wednesday night, writes JON DUNHAM.
Opportunities to do so have been few and far between due to players turning out for virtually nothing as well having no permanent training base.
But boss Alan Doyle is hoping the one session will have served its purpose as he continues to search around for fresh faces, despite knowing that the experienced players he desperately needs will come at a bigger price.
“Obviously, it is still very difficult,” the Kettering manager said.
“But we are working on a few things and we will see what can do done to bring one or two more players in. Everyone knows that we are missing that spine you need. We need an experienced player at the back and we need one in the middle but they cost money, even at this level.
“There are one of two lads in our squad at the moment who can definitely play a bit. But they need that experience next to them and that is the key element we are missing.”
The Poppies return to action this Sunday when they entertain Chesham at Steel Park (ko 3pm).
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