HIGHWORTH Town joint-boss John Fisher announced he is targeting the play-offs in the final 16 games of the season.

The Worthians are nine points and seven places below the final play-off spot in Southern League Division One South, but have garnered four points from Fisher’s first two games in charge alongside Ross Adams.

Both of those games have been against teams from above Highworth in the division, therefore the weekend’s clash against third-place Winchester City is not alarming the new management team in the slightest.

Fisher believes 10 wins from the club’s remaining 16 fixtures should be enough to see the Worthians record a shock play-off appearance as well as record their highest ever finish.

He said: “Everything has been going in the right direction since me and Ross joined, and long may it continue.

“We’ve got 16 games left – people ask me if I’ve set any targets. Yes I have – to reach the play-offs.

“It’s no good me just saying we’ll see the season out, you’ve got to have a goal.

“It’s like when you start a game, you’re aim is not to concede. Our long-term target is the play-offs.

“If we did get there then what an achievement, but if we don’t then we don’t.

“If we put a decent run together in our remaining 16 games, we’ll be right in the mix.”

Winchester will arrive at the Save on Tyres Stadium in decent form having won three of their last four while only conceding once in that time.

But not conceding has also come quite naturally to Highworth’s youthful defensive line of late.

Two clean sheets from two has surprised and delighted Fisher – who said he was unable to recall a younger back five in his 30 years of coaching football.

He said: “This game will be a test for us, make no mistake about it.

“But I love these games and if you want to achieve anything then you’ve got to play these sorts of teams.

“Hopefully we can carry on keeping clean sheets too.

“The young lads at the back have done ever so well. I’ve been coaching for something like 30 years and I’ve never managed such a young back four or five.

“But they’re doing everything we’re telling them to do, and to go two games without conceding at this level is a really credible achievement.”