FAIRFORD Town boss Gareth Davies is confident his team have what it takes to bring their difficult run to an end against New College.

Davies’ men were stunned by a last-minute winner after fighting back from 3-1 down against Hook Norton last Saturday, meaning they have now failed to win any of their last 11 games in all competitions.

But Davies sees no reason why they cannot triumph at New College – just as long as they have learned from that last defeat.

“We haven’t been playing badly, we just get to the last minute and seem to throw it away,” said Davies.

“I’m hoping that we learned a valuable lesson last week – that hurt. To come back from 3-1 down and not to get anything was so disappointing. I felt for the players.

“In our last three games we’ve played Cirencester, who are near the top, Purton, who are third, and Hook Norton, who are a very good side too.

“We have matched them all, if not been the better side in those games, but we just can’t get that slice of luck.

“It’s a case of us trying to get three points on Saturday. If the group of players we have perform like they can then I’m sure we are capable of getting them.”

Fairford’s poor form sees them languishing in the bottom three, so a win at fellow strugglers New College will do them the world of good.

Davies added: “If we win we will probably go up a place if results go our way.

“We are still hanging onto the coat tails of the teams above us and if we can go on a bit of a run it’s still possible that we can pull ourselves right up the table.

“We just need to stick to our philosophy. We know what these players are capable of – they just need to believe in themselves.

“A few tiny mistakes are costing us. If we can eradicate that from our game we will be okay.”

Fairford will be without Luke Cordery for the match and he could miss up to eight weeks with a knee ligament problem.

Alex Rudd is also a doubt with a hamstring injury but Lewis Petrie should recover from his back problem and Ben Anderson is also fit to return.

Jack Allen is suspended following his sending off against Purton but Callum Marshall is available again after a suspension of his own.

Elsewhere, third-in-the-table Purton will look to follow up last week’s win over then leaders Lydney Town with another victory, this time away at bottom side Letcombe.