IT'S rapidly approaching make or break time for our season and there is little margin for error.

With 14 games remaining it's almost like entering a new competition starting with Stafford Rangers on Saturday.

We've slipped to fourth place and would have liked to have been closer than we find ourselves at present because playing catch up is not always the best way. While you are doing that there is little leeway for slip-ups.

That's a problem for us and means we have to show more ruthlessness in the remaining fixtures and get rid of the inconsistencies that have surfaced recently.

Stafford offers another Tamworth-style clash to look forward to and let's hope we can find a similar response from the players and get the same result.

Phil Robinson's team have had a remarkable season and I don't think anybody connected with the club would have expected them to do quite as well as they have done.

They deserve a lot of credit for what they achieved.

Of course they helped spoil our Centenary celebrations at St George's Lane with a 3-0 win but that scoreline flattered them to some extent.

During the first half we played as well as we had all season but they caught us on the hop and we paid the price for not being able to finish.

Stafford as a team are not about one or two players but they have contributions from all over the park and as a hard-working side we will need to earn anything we get from there.

We will be boosted by the return of Jon Holloway and Adam Wilde from suspension but typically for us no sooner do we get players back then we lose someone else - this time Paul Carty who is suspended.

I've also got a few worries over players like Darren Middleton (groin), Adam Webster (hamstring) and Pat Lyons (thigh). They've been battling on in recent weeks with knocks and but for the injury situation they would not have featured. It's been obvious from some of their performances they've needed a rest but I've not had the chance to do that.

Saturday's FA Trophy defeat at Margate was disappointing but I cannot level the same disappointment at the performance. It was one of those games where the first goal was always going to be critical and it looked as though it was going to be us for a while but it wasn't to be.

We've had some excellent games in the Trophy but two lapses against our Conference visitors put paid to our hopes this time round.

One of the plus points to come out of the match was Mitch Counsell's display in midfield. He was thrown in at the deep end and acquitted himself well although understandably he tired a bit at the end.

Going from the Hellenic League to the Dr Martens Premier Division is hard enough but to go straight into a Trophy match against a Conference side for his home debut was especially testing but he did well and he's definitely worth following up.

JOHN BARTON was talking to reporter NAT SYLVESTER.