BASINGSTOKE Town manager Jason Bristow knows exactly what he wants for Christmas – three wins out of three over the festive period.

The Camrose club face local rivals Farnborough home and away, with a trip to Gosport Borough sandwiched in between, and Bristow is looking for maximum points as Town aim to climb back up towards the Conference South play-off places.

“We will be disappointed if we lose any game, so the target for us has to be nine points from the three games if we want to get back to where we want to be,” he said.

The Dragons face local rivals Farnborough on Boxing Day before travelling to Gosport Borough on Saturday and completing their festive schedule with a trip to Farnborough on New Year’s Day.

Both sides currently sit below 11th-placed Town in the Conference South table, meaning the festive period should
give Bristow’s men, who have lost their last four league games, the chance to turn their season around.

“It’s crucial for us,” Bristow said. “We need to pick up a lot of points in the next couple of weeks.

“It’s a good opportunity for us to do that and get ourselves right back into the pack near the top of the table, where we want to be.”

Farnborough go into Thursday’s game at the Camrose with a terrible away record, having won just once on the
road all season.

Like Town, they are on a poor run, having lost their last three league games and recording just one win in eight games
against Conference South sides.

However, a couple of postponements mean they go into the festive period well-rested, having last played on December 10.

Bristow said: “Our home record is quite good and we are looking at it as a winnable game.

“Last year, we lost there on Boxing Day and then won 6-2 at home. Hopefully, we can make sure that the game is just as
entertaining this year.”

Gosport may be struggling near the bottom of the table but they have found some form of late. They are unbeaten in
five and remain involved in the FA Trophy after beating Conference Premier outfit Nuneaton Town on penalties.

Bristow said: “Gosport have a lot of experienced players in their side and it may be took them time to find their feet.”

Town will be without centre-back David Ray, for the Gosport game following his sending off against Bromley, meaning that
Ross Adams will get the chance to stake his claim for a more regular place in the team.

Bristow is hoping to welcome back Nathan Smart, who missed the trip to Bishop’s Stortford through illness.

Return to the website for live text commentary from all three of Basingstoke’s festive fixture