"Expectation" within Chasetown dressing room to compete for play-off spot says boss Jamie Hawkins
Jamie Hawkins revealed there is an "expectation" within the Chasetown dressing room that they should be high achievers this season.
Ahead of hosting Nantwich Town tomorrow (3pm), the Scholars are ninth in the Northern One West table, eight points adrift of the play-off places, but with games in hand on most of their rivals above them.
But with that gap as wide as it is, there is a pressure to win those matches - with Wednesday's clash at Shifnal Town the latest to fall victim to the weather.
"Naturally it does, it comes with the territory," said Hawkins. "There has been that expectation, and that comes from within the dressing room, nowhere else, that we should be competing at the higher ends of the table and looking at the play-offs as a minimum.
"That is still achievable, there are lots of points to play for. But, I have talked about good performances for some time now, we have to make sure those good performances are transferring into a good points return as well.
"It's the old cliche, there are 14 cup finals left. We will do them in ones, but we have to go full focus into the game and then see where it takes us.
"That will be our approach until the end of the season. We do have to treat them all like cup finals.
"There are no second chances at this time of year, the games start to run out."
The Scholars have lost consecutive matches to high-flyers Bury and Runcorn Linnets, but Hawkins insists performances have remained strong.
"We haven't picked up the points that we have maybe warranted," he said. "Having said that, when you don't get results when you want, a little break to reset and refresh might not be a bad thing.
"It's been a really strange recent run of games. Our performances have been really good, but we have lost three and won one.
"It has been a bit disappointing in that sense."
Meanwhile, Stafford Rangers entertain Shifnal looking to continue their upturn in form. Rangers sit two points clear of the relegation zone after back-to-back wins.
Fellow strugglers Darlaston Town welcome Newcastle Town in a crucial survival six-pointer while Sporting Khalsa host Kidsgrove Athletic looking to secure consecutive victories.
In the Northern One Midlands, 12th-placed Lichfield City, who have just one win in their last eight league matches, visit Racing Club Warwick.
