IT would be a terrific Christmas and New Year if we could win both of our forthcoming Nationwide North games against Nuneaton Borough.

Over the years, Worcester against Nuneaton has always been a big fixture and it would be great if we could end the year and start the new one with two good results.

We have to look at the Boxing Day fixture first and foremost because the next game is always the most important one.

It's nice for us that it is at home because we traditionally get bigger gates on Boxing Day.

They generally have a bit of edge about them as people look to get out of the house.

That extra few can generate a better atmosphere and it's certainly one for the supporters to look forward to.

I suppose playing Nuneaton twice in seven days is no different to a cup match with a replay.

I'm curious as to how those organising the fixtures arranged it this way.

I'm a great believer in the old tradition that you play somebody in the first-half of the season and then again in the second-half.

The Dr Martens League was notorious for doing it the other way around and we often played seven or eight teams home and away before Christmas.

We've had a few Boxing Day games over the years that have fallen foul of the weather but, hopefully, it will be kind to us this time.

You cannot control the weather though and heavy rain forced the game at Lancaster on Saturday to be postponed.

We've now had two games called off, Lancaster and Bradford Park Avenue, and that's a problem you sometimes face.

We are now heading towards the half-way point of the season and it does not surprise me that 11 points separate the top 15 clubs in Nationwide North.

It's proved to be a very competitive league and I always thought it would be close.

As far as I'm concerned, we have got two competitions that we want to make progress in and a play-off place to have a go at.

It's now time for us to push on and finish as high as we possibly can.

We had a training session at St George's Lane on Monday and it is good for us that Colin Hoyle feels a lot better with his back this week.

I've been pleased with Colin this season. He's a very solid defender and he provides a strong presence in the team.

When Colin joined us in the summer, we knew we were bringing a very good player to Worcester.

He's got a lot of experience behind him, being around the professional circuit and then being part of Burton Albion's championship winning side.

Colin has also weighed in with a few goals -- a couple of which have been very important.

His header at Southport got us back into the game and on the front foot.

Nick Colley was doing some straight line sprinting during training too which was startling to say the least after his recent knee operation.

He's set up some very optimistic deadlines for his comeback from injury but we'll have to be careful and not rush him back too soon.