HELLENIC LEAGUE: Highworth boss hoping to keep it tight against leaders (From Swindon Advertiser)

HELLENIC LEAGUE: Highworth boss hoping to keep it tight against leaders

6:00am Friday 22nd February 2013 in Sport By Ned Payne

JOHN Fisher says Highworth must stay in the game early on when they face league leaders Marlow at the Elms tomorrow.

Highworth are seven points from guaranteed safety and desperately need wins on the board if they are to survive in the Hellenic Premier.

And boss Fisher believes keeping the Blues at bay in the opening 20 minutes will provide valuable building blocks if his team are to secure a point or better.

“The hardest part is not conceding early. When sides at the bottom concede early they lose confidence and the floodgates open,” he said.

“When you’re at the top and you concede, you think you can get back into it. What you don’t want is to be out of the game after 20 minutes.

“Marlow are good going forward, no two ways about it. They aren’t great at the back but their policy is that they will score more than you, and nine times out of 10 they do.

“They are very well-organised and a good side. Their manager is a nice fella as well, he speaks to you courteously and some don’t these days.

“They are going to win the league by a mile and I’ve got nothing but admiration for them.”

Fisher admits he is still worried about his players’ fitness levels as Highworth did not play last weekend, and says he would be delighted with a draw tomorrow.

He said: “We need the points so it’s going to be a battle. My only concern is the fitness but you can’t do much about that at our level.

“They will be fresh and fit from last week, whereas we haven’t done a lot. Hopefully we can contain them until we get into the game.

“If someone offered me a point, I’d take it right now. Three points would be fantastic but you have to be realistic.

“For that to happen you have to have a real good day and they have to be off their game, that’s how it is.

”It does happen but we have to match them and all of the 11 players have to win their personal battles.”

The manager is missing Tom Fila as he is out for six weeks (ankle ligaments), while Rory Sproule is away.

Fisher has made a seven-day approach for a mystery striker and he is planning to hold talks with the player in the next few days.

Elsewhere, Shrivenham, who are currently 15 points from guaranteed safety, have no game this weekend.

Mark Stevens’ side are next in action in the league at home to Thame a week tomorrow.