SLOUGH Town joint manager Neil Baker believes seven or eight more points will be enough to book their place in the play-offs this season, writes Rob Stevens.
The Rebels currently stand in fourth position in the National League South and 14 points ahead of those chasing the top seven with eight matches remaining.
It might be a tall order to keep pace with Wealdstone and Havant & Waterlooville who are battling for the title, but securing third place in the table would give Slough the advantage of a home tie in the play-off semi final and a full week to prepare for it.
The Rebels are currently behind third-placed Weymouth on goal difference – level on 61 points as well as Bath City – and face a crunch trip to the Bob Lucas Stadium on the South coast this Saturday (3pm).
Baker told the Observer: “We’ve got a nice gap now with 14 points on Hampton & Richmond Borough and 15 ahead of Maidstone but they’ve both got two games in hand on us.
“We’re in a good position but that’s all and the season doesn’t finish until 42 games have been played. We probably need another seven or eight points to get into the play-offs.
“I would be very disappointed if we don’t get the points we need but you never know in football, it’s a funny old game at times.”
PHOTO: Slough Town (amber) suffered a shock 2-0 defeat to Berkshire rivals and bottom side Hungerford Town at Arbour Park on Saturday.
“You have the advantage of playing on the Wednesday night and having a week to prepare for the semi final at home if you finish in the top three.
“It’s obviously a big thing to try and finish in the top three but both Weymouth and Bath are great sides and Dartford are still coming up from the back so anyone can be there.
“Wealdstone and Havant will finish one and two but I don’t know which way around and there’s a number of teams all fighting for third place.
READ MORE: Slough Town suffer a surprise defeat against Berkshire rivals Hungerford Town
“We will wait and see but I’m not worried about it too much. We’ve been promoted twice away from home in the play offs so it wouldn’t put any fear into us.”
Slough do have to improve upon their form against teams in the bottom half of the table after a shock 2-0 defeat against Berkshire rivals and bottom side Hungerford Town at Arbour Park last weekend.
Hungerford were completing the league double over The Rebels – who have taken 14 from a possible 21 points from the teams currently in the bottom five.
Slough are due to play both Dulwich Hamlet and St Albans City – both in the bottom three – in the final weeks to the season.
Baker commented: “It was a bad day on Saturday, and we don’t need to say too much else about it. It was very frustrating, but all the players have watched the game back and we’ve talked about it.
“We’re disappointed but Hungerford came to us and were brave. I thought they were excellent. They fully deserved to win on the day and it could’ve been more.
“It’s not often we say that, but you have to take it on the chin sometimes and just accept that it was a bad day.
“We’ve mentioned our form against sides in the bottom half compared with the top half. We’ve got to address it and work out a way of trying to change it and if we can then we will finish the season well.”
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