JOHN Fisher hopes to see the best of his Highworth Town players now the burden of a title bid is over.

Fisher all but admitted defeat in his team’s quest to be crowned Premier Division champions in the wake of last Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at Thame United.

Although Highworth have two games in hand on leaders Thatcham Town, they are still 14 points adrift.

With the pressure now off his players, Fisher hopes to see the Worthians reach their full potential.

“I think we shot ourselves in the foot last week. There is a long way to go but we are relying on other teams to get beat. The best we can aim for is second or third,” said Fisher.

“The players know I say it like it is and they have just got to get on with it. Maybe the fact the pressure is off us now will help them.

“I was just disappointed with how we lost – we beat ourselves. When we lost to Thatcham before Christmas that was fair enough, they battered us, but we lost the game ourselves against Thame.”

Highworth are at home to 14th-placed Brackley Town Saints on Saturday and Fisher says nothing less than a win will do at the Elms.

“We’ve got Brackley and Milton in the next two games and if we lost to them, then that’s dropped points,” added Fisher.

“That’s no disrespect to them but that would be unacceptable. They are in the bottom half for a reason.”

Elsewhere, Royal Wootton Bassett Town are away at fourth-in-the-table Kidlington.

Paul Braithwaite’s side are looking to make it back-to-back wins after beating Wokingham & Emmbrook last time out.