Simon Johnson is confident Reading City will stay out of the relegation zone as they go into the final 10 games of the Combined Counties League campaign.
“We still have 30 points to play for. There will be ups and downs, and we are all ready for the journey,” said the manager.
City are currently only four points above second from bottom Edgware & Kingsbury with a game in hand and with a match to come against them.
Their plight is in total contrast to this time last year, when they were heading for the Premier Division North play-offs and the Southern Combination Cup final, which they went on to win.
Instead of the top six, they now find themselves in the bottom six, much to the surprise of those who have followed the club’s fortunes over a length of time.
And when you are low down in the standings and the business end of the season is fast approaching, the dreaded thought of relegation looms large.
City go into the month of March just four points above the drop zone but with a superior goal difference than the rest of the clubs currently in choppy waters.
Their hopes of survival are buoyed by the fact that they have five successive home matches and six in the next seven – although, of course, much further rain over The Rivermoor is likely to see more postponements.
Assessing the crucial period ahead for his team, manager Simon Johnson said: “We’re in a period at the moment where points are vital for us.
The reality is that although we have the comfort blanket of a few games in hand, we are certainly not safe from a relegation battle.
“But I am confident that our squad is more than strong enough to get us up the table in the last 10 games, as they recently showed when holding league leaders Amersham to a draw on their own ground.
“We have some big games coming up against teams around us and there will be a bit of pressure to deliver results.”
He continued: “We are really looking forward to, hopefully, five home games on the spin. Our home form is normally good and I don’t think teams are huge fans of coming to play us on our own patch.
“These five games could be season-defining for us, so having them at home is a real advantage.
“We have a brilliant group of people at the club. We have good numbers at training and do things together away from football, and the spirit in the squad will be an asset going into this tough end of the season.”
Having lost key players at the end of last season, some to clubs at a higher level, Johnson has brought fresh young blood into the squad.
They include Lucas Taplin, the under-18 side’s leading scorer, who has netted three goals in three first-team appearances, the latest having come in the 2-1 defeat by Hilltop this week. Teenager Jay Herbert made
his full debut in that game.
Reiss Baker, who has been with the club since under seven, and Finley Meikle are others knocking on the first-team door, all reflecting highly of the club’s pathway programme.
City’s home fixtures for March are – 1st v Ardley United; 4th v Harefield United; 8th v Broadfields United; 11th Risborough Rangers; 15th Edgware & Kingsbury.
On the 26th they make the short journey to Lowther Road to play Wokingham & Emmbrook before playing Milton United at Rivermoor on April 1st.
