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Search forPlay-off place is still City's target – Britton
Wednesday, December 03, 2008, 18:11
City currently lie six points behind fifth-placed Maidenhead United and Britton has set his team the target of being no more than five points outside a play-off place by the new year.
Britton's side have remained in 11th place since beating Fisher Athletic 1-0 in October and the City manager wants to make sure that they have something to play for over the second half of the season.
"If you had asked us at the beginning of the season we would have wanted to be in the play-offs, and that remains our goal," he said.
"We want to be within four or five points of a play-off position at New Year's Day.
"If we can be there, then we know that the second half of the season is not dead and we have got something to play for.
"We think we will get better in the second half of the season."
The first test for City as they bid to stay within reach of the play-offs is a trip to Braintree Town on Saturday.
Braintree manager Lee Patterson left the club last week, but the Irons have only lost once in their last 10 matches and have been steadily moving up the Blue Square South table after losing their first four games of the season.
"Their manager went last week and then they had a couple of good results, winning at St Albans and then drawing 1-1 at Havant & Waterlooville, where they conceded a late equaliser, so after losing their manager, they've made some improvements," said Britton.
"We know that in Danny Hockton and Gareth Williams they have got good quality front players and last season they took four points from us. They are a dangerous side."
Martin Slocombe and Lewis Hogg are expected to recover from the bugs which kept them out of Saturday's win at Maidenhead, although Hogg is still struggling with an ankle ligament injury.
Steve Jones, who was named on the bench last weekend but only as emergency cover, is likely to be fit enough to pay some part.
Ali Gibb continues to recover from his fractured ankle and may be in contention to play a part in the Torquay FA Trophy match a week on Saturday.
