SHRIVENHAM manager Michael McNally wants to see a professional performance from his side as they travel to Tytherington Rocks in Hellenic League Division One West on Saturday.

McNally’s men have put in some good performances of late, including an impressive draw against league leaders Fairford Town and a 4-0 win over Milton United a week ago.

While he finds it encouraging, McNally doesn’t want his troops to take this weekend’s game lightly, despite the hosts being in 15th place, one point above rock-bottom Woodstock Town.

“We’ve been doing okay in the league over the last month or so. We probably could have beaten Fairford,” said the Shrivenham boss.

“We won 4-0 last Saturday and it is just consistency and a bit of naivety which has cost us in the past because we are a young side.

“But we’ve hit a bit of form and performances have gone back to how they were at the start of the season.

“In this standard of football, I’m not worried about what other teams do or what they are about. As long as we go out and be as professional as we can, we will do OK.”

Heading into the game, Shrivenham occupy eighth place, but McNally believes that is just a fraction of what they could have achieved this year if they were more consistent.

“I said to the players about two weeks ago that we hadn’t kicked on and got better,’’ he added.

“There were about nine weeks from just before Christmas where we didn’t play well and that’s cost us a top-three place.

“On our day, we are as good as anyone in the league but we have had a spell where we weren’t at the races.

“Realistically, we could finish fifth or sixth if we go on a bit of a run. I’m lucky because I’ve had five players on the bench for nearly every game.”

Elsewhere in Division One West, fourth-placed Purton tackle bottom-of-the-league Woodstock and will be full of confidence after their 4-0 win at home to North Leigh last time out.

Leaders Fairford and boss Gareth Davies will look to take another step forward in the Hellenic League Supplementary Cup with victory over Finchampstead.

Meanwhile, New College’s 4-1 win over Woodstock will put them in the perfect frame of mind for their Hellenic League Supplementary Cup tie with Penn & Tylers Green.