FAIRFORD Town boss Gareth Davies is urging his players to keep their cool as other teams look to chip away at their lead at the top of Division One West.

Following their 6-0 thumping of Tytherington Rocks last weekend, Fairford are eight points clear of the chasing pack and despite the likes of Cheltenham Saracens, who they welcome to Cinder Lane tomorrow, having five matches in hand, Davies hopes that the advantage his team have already secured gives them the edge over the chasing pack.

“The points are on the board. Teams that have got six or seven games in hand – they’ve got to win those games,” said the Fairford manager.

“When we were down at the bottom last year, we had games in hand and we’d always say ‘oh, we’ve got games in hand’ but it didn’t do us any favours because with the fixture congestion, teams are going to be playing two or three times-a-week and that on its own is pressure because you’re going into those games thinking ‘we have to win this’.

“Ourselves; we’re on target for our fixtures and our points are on the board. If people catch us, then fair play to them.

“We just need to focus on every game and just keep winning.

“It doesn’t matter how we do it. If we win ugly, win 1-0 or do what we did (last weekend) and have a good game; we don’t care.”

Davies added: “Looking at the table, (Cheltenham) will need to come to us and they will need to come and get something for their own title chances. There’s zero pressure on our players.”

Elsewhere, Purton are in action for the first time since December 28 as they host Easington Sports (kick-off 2.15pm), New College are at home to Tytherington, while Shrivenham are without a game.