HIGHWORTH Town manager Jeff Roberts sees no reason why his side cannot do what no-one else has managed so far this season in Southern League Division One South and beat Thatcham Town.

The Berkshire side have dropped just six points from 14 league games – all coming from draws – and sit second in the table, two points behind leaders Frome Town with three games in hand.

Highworth have hit a bit of form themselves over the past month and avoided defeat in the league throughout November by picking up eight points from four fixtures.

With his side now up to eighth place in the table, Roberts has full confidence that the Worthians are capable of toppling Thatcham on Saturday – although is well aware achieving that feat will be far from easy at the Save on Tyres Stadium.

“Thatcham have got a big squad and a big budget, so we know the challenge ahead,” said Roberts.

“On our day, I think we have got the quality to match any team in this league but it is about being able to match the work-rate too.

“It will be a massive test. They are unbeaten and everyone will want to be the first team to beat them.

“If we can perform to our very best level, then I think we have a chance of doing that.

“We picked up some good points in November, so that stands us in good stead. We are getting there.”

After ending November with a last-gasp 2-1 win at home to Barnstaple Town last weekend, Highworth began December with a 1-0 defeat at home to National League South side Chippenham Town in the Wiltshire Premier Shield quarter-finals on Wednesday night.

Roberts was mightily impressed by the performance his team produced against opponents from two tiers above, and actually felt it was the Worthians who deserved to progress to the last four.

“I was disappointed to lose the game. With the chances we created in the second half, I thought we were the better side,” said Roberts.

“We hit the woodwork twice and had another couple of chances that we should have scored.

“It seemed like the lads wanted to take the back of the net off rather than show a bit of composure.

“I thought we were the better team on Wednesday but we lost, whereas on Saturday, we didn’t play well against Barnstaple but we won.

“That’s football. We will take the positives from midweek and try to take them into the next game.”