HIGHWORTH Town manager Jeff Roberts has set his sights on claiming the scalps of a handful of sides scrapping it out towards the bottom of the Southern League Divison One South table between now and the end of the season.

Only six teams currently sit below Highworth in their debut campaign at Southern League level, although they play four of those over their final six games.

The first of those falls on Saturday as they host Mangotsfield United at the Save on Tyres Stadium.

United sit immediately above the relegation zone, but a 3-1 win over Larkhall Athletic last weekend has pushed the cushion between themselves and the bottom two to five points.

Although wary that the Bristol side will want to further strengthen their position in the battle to beat the drop, Roberts is hoping the game can kick-start a strong end-of-season run for Highworth.

“Saturday’s game against Mangotsfield comes first so it is the most important thing, but you do look at the fixtures and you think ‘can we pick up nine or 10 points out of the last 18’,” said Roberts.

“If we can, it would possibly take us to around mid-table. These are games we need to look to win.

“The aim for this season was to try and stay in the Southern League and I think we are safe and clear of any danger now.

“If we can move up a little bit and get to mid-table, it will have been a very good season and would give us springboard into next season too.

“First and foremost, we can’t look any further than this weekend. Mangotsfield are down there but they had a good win last weekend, so it will be a tough one.”

Roberts has been handed a selection boost ahead of this weekend’s game as Zak Westlake, Sam Morris and Matt Grabe are all back fit and available to feature.

After one-goal losses to Moneyfields and Melksham Town in their last two matches, Roberts hopes a stronger squad will mark a turning of the tide for the Worthians.

He said: “I thought we were unlucky last weekend against Melksham. We should have had a point, and I thought were were unlucky not to come away with a point from Moneyfields too.

“I thought we played well last weekend, but it’s about taking your chances – and we didn’t do that.

“Hopefully, with a couple of players coming back in this weekend, it will make us a little bit stronger. It gives us a bit more competition for places.”