HAVING pulled off the great escape to avoid relegation last season, Hartley Wintney manager Ben Dillon has his sights set on a top-five finish in the Combined Counties League Premier Division this time around.

Dillon worked wonders to guide the village side to safety from what appeared a hopeless position – and he wants his players to pick up from where they left off at the end of the last campaign.

“With the momentum we have from the way we finished the season, the signings we have made and the way pre-season has gone, the top five is our target this year,” he said. “We feel we could have finished mid-table last year if we had been in charge from the start.”

Dillon has moved to re-sign most of last year’s squad, including key men Ryan Stephens and Mason Saunders, while Darryl Bloxham, Jack Coventry and Carl Saunders have returned to the club.

However, the big coup has been the signing of Sam Argent, who joined from Whitchurch despite interest from clubs at a higher level.

The club has attracted new sponsorship, with CSL Transport becoming shirt sponsors and Two Guys Kitchens also signing up, so the mood in the camp is good ahead of the first game of the season, a trip to Bedfont Sports on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).

“We are looking forward to the new season,” Dillon added.

“There is a good buzz around the place and we have done well in pre-season but we just want to get started now.”

Hartley’s first home game is on Tuesday, when they host Badshot Lea, a game Dillon admits will be something of a litmus test for his side.

“Badshot Lea always have a good team,” he said. “Bedfont will be a tough game but Badshot Lea will be a real test to see where we are.”