CIRENCESTER TOWN boss Brian Hughes is not fazed by having the hardest run-in of all the principals in the Calor League Div One South & West promotion race – indeed, he thinks it might work in his favour, writes Danny Hall.

Merthyr’s slip-up at Taunton on Tuesday night means that the Welshmen lead the division on goal difference only from Ciren with three games remaining for both. “We’ve got Mangotsfield, Shortwood and Yate – the toughest run-in by far – but I would much prefer that than playing the bottom three,” insisted Hughes. “Then I wouldn’t know what I would get performance-wise.

“If we can’t win the league I want to be second. There are medals for the runners-up, too – we got nothing for being promoted from the play-offs a few years ago – and for all the people in and around the team who have put so much in over the last nine months I would love if we had something to show for it.

“What I could do without is for Tiverton to win at Stratford on Thursday night and make it a three-horse race. I don’t want to be looking over my shoulder as well.

“It seems to be Merthyr’s turn to have a wobble but even so I feel we need to win our last three games.The key will be keeping my players relaxed."