IF HIGHWORTH finish above Wantage then they will win the Hellenic League Premier Division this season.

That is the verdict of Worthians boss John Fisher, who has guided his side to fourth in the table after 18 games, four points adrift of table-toppers Reading.

Wantage are a point behind the Berkshire side and Fisher believes the Alfredians are the team to beat if he is to once again bring title glory to the Elms.

“Whoever finishes above Wantage will win the league. They aren’t going to finish outside the top two and we’ve got to hope they drop points,” said Fisher.

“I’ve seen everyone now and we’ve been vulnerable at the back at times, but going forward we’re as good as anyone.

“The players are starting to believe and as long as we stay injury-free we’ve got a chance. No disrespect to our reserves but they have played six and lost six, so we haven’t got strength-in-depth.

“I must admit that Wantage are the side everyone has to worry about, they are the ones that can upset everything.”

Highworth are away to beleagured Abingdon Town tomorrow, whose boss Gavin Jones quit this week following the Abbots’ winless start to the league campaign.

And Fisher - who is without the absent Sam Wadieh and the injured Toby Clark - is keen for his team to punish the strugglers.

“The bottom eight sides are the ones that we’ve got to be looking to beat because that’s where seasons are won and lost,” he said.

“You can’t go away and beat Wantage and then lose to Newbury because all your hard work goes out the window.

“Abingdon are bottom and we’re expecting to go there and get three points. Anything less is unacceptable as far as I’m concerned.

“We should have far too much for them, although my gut feeling is that the game won’t be on anyway.

“The manager’s gone and they got beat 7-1 by Shrivenham last week. They have got no money and are rock-bottom, which doesn’t bode well.

“I just don’t think they will be able to handle our firepower. We’ll create chances, there’s no doubt about it.”