by Alex Hoad

Ray Turner says he is not daunted by Faversham Town's run-in which will decide their Ryman League, Division 1 South promotion fate.

With eight games to go, Town sit third with a seven-point lead in the race for a top-five finish and the play-off place it provides.

However, the Lilywhites still have to face seven of the top 10 and ever-improving Merstham before the end of the campaign.

Boss Turner said: "We have generally fared better against the top teams and I have no fear about any of the teams we have left to play.

"It’s come down to an eight-game season over the next six weeks now. The sides we have got to play are all good sides but that’s how I want it.

"We always perform better against the top teams. We are mentally prepared.

"I’d much rather be going into games knowing the sides will be going for it against us, with something to play for, rather than playing teams for whom there is nothing on the game.

"I’d rather be facing the top-half teams than those fighting at the bottom. There is pressure but it’s a different type of tension with games against the top teams, whereas those teams down there are fighting and scrapping for every point."

Turner’s side host free-scoring Worthing on Saturday but will be without suspended Aiden Sherlock and Luke Harvey (work commitments) while defender James Peacock could miss the rest of the season as he recovers from knee ligament damage.