NEW Year is just round the corner and from a footballing point of view I couldn't be happier to bid good riddance to 2003.

It's been a disappointing and poor year in many ways with a good few obstacles put in our way, notably injuries to key players.

The year started well for us last January when we were toe-to-toe with Tamworth battling for top spot in the Dr Martens Premier Division but our challenge melted away and, in truth, it's been a difficult time since.

Reflecting back on this last year I would say this has probably been my hardest in management and it was summed up right at the end when our record signing Jai Stanley was injured.

It still seems the injury hoodoo hasn't left us and I think the chairman, Dave Boddy, worked out we'd had eight players on the operating table during the last 12 months.

I had a wry smile recently when I saw Arsene Wenger saying his squad was not big enough after a few of his players were missing - he should come and try it at St George's Lane.

Last season we felt that we had put together a side that, with the additions of Pat Lyons, David Foy and John Snape, was capable of really mounting a strong championship challenge.

The start we made to the season confirmed that, and even though we were probably not going to win it, we were certainly up their contesting and you are not top for 13 weeks or whatever it was without having something.

Until the injuries crept in, everybody at the club probably thought felt that for the first time since coming out of the Conference we had a realistic chance of returning.

Those hopes eventually disappeared with injuries to Snape and Lyons but they are both fit to help us achieve a better end to this season than we managed last time round.

We've got two crucial matches against Stafford and Dover and following our poor display at Moor Green there is definitely room for improvement.

There will be changes with Danny McDonnell coming back in for Chris Taylor. Chris did exactly the job we wanted him to and will be on the bench and with us until he gets sorted.

But in addition to McDonnell's recall I plan to make at least one other change even though I haven't got a fantastic array of options.

I was far from happy with what I saw at Moor Green and we need to raise our game if we are to get anything from two good sides.

Both games will be difficult and we will need to buck a trend because as it stands at the moment of the 32 points we have got only six of those have come against teams in the top half of the table. Four against Hinckley and one each against Weymouth and Havant.

Dover have crept up on the rails to move above us and though we've got games in hand, they've got the points in the bag.

I will expect the players to keep cool heads at Dover following last year's match when Carl Heeley and David Foy were sent off but I think what has gone, has gone and it won't be a factor.

The only thing I remember about that match is it cost us Carl suspended for three games and we don't want a repeat of that.

Finally I would like to wish supporters and everyone connected with the club a happy New Year.

JOHN BARTON was talking to reporter NAT SYLVESTER.