BASINGSTOKE Town manager Jason Bristow is targeting maximum points from the Easter weekend as his side look to get themselves back into the Vanarama Conference South title race.

Saturday’s 4-2 defeat to Wealdstone dealt a potentially fatal blow to the Dragons’ hopes of winning the league, leaving them third in the table, five points adrift of leaders Boreham Wood and four off second-placed Bromley with just five games left.

This week, Town face a trip to struggling Hayes and Yeading United on Saturday (3pm), with relegation-threatened Farnborough visiting The Soccer AM Stadium on Easter Monday (3pm).

Win both games and Basingstoke will be in a position to take advantage of the fact that the top two play each other on Saturday. Fail to take maximum points and they will be looking nervously over their shoulders, with a place in the play-offs far from assured.

It’s pretty much make or break as far as the title race goes, but Bristow is backing his players to come out fighting and bounce back in style.

He said: “The players were disappointed after the Wealdstone game, but it is important that we don’t beat ourselves up too much, because the same players have put us in a fantastic position.

“I am confident that we can get the results to put last week behind us. If we apply ourselves, there is no reason why we cannot pick up six points.

“We are battling for promotion and there are certain games that teams in that position should be winning. These two fall into that category.”

On the flip side, both Hayes and Farnborough will be desperate for points as they look to avoid relegation.

Hayes, who play their home games at Maidenhead United’s York Road ground, sit just above the relegation zone, but they have improved in recent weeks, losing just one of their last five games following the departure of manager Phil Babb.

Bristow said: “Hayes have had a change in fortune since they changed managers, keeping four clean sheets in five games. They will try to stop us playing, so it may not be a pretty game and we will have to be patient.”

If results go against them, Farnborough’s relegation could be confirmed at the end of Monday’s game. Town’s north Hampshire rivals have failed to win any of their last seven and just one of their previous 14 outings, but they scored two late goals to beat Basingstoke 2-1 in the reverse fixture earlier in the season.

“Farnborough have had some bad results of late, but they will be scrapping for everything,” Bristow added. “They will see it as a must-win game, but if we can win on Saturday, Monday’s game could be massive for us in terms of securing a place in the play-offs.”

With two games in the space of less than 48 hours, Bristow is planning to rotate his players over the course of the weekend.

The good news is that he has a fully-fit squad to pick from, with midfielder Jamie Brown back in contention after almost three months out with a groin problem.

“Jamie is champing at the bit to get back playing,” Bristow said. “He is different to the other players we have got and it’s really important that we have got him back. He gives us experience and a real boost going into the last few games of the season.”