THE next three games in Nationwide North represent a big spell in the league for us.

We play away at Kettering Town on Boxing Day, visit Redditch United on Saturday, December 30 and entertain Kettering in the return match on New Year's Day.

It's a key part of the season in the build-up to the new year and it makes the recent result against Leigh RMI even more disappointing. We knew we had these games coming up and beating Leigh would have consolidated our position in the top six.

Whatever we get out of these three games we will have to work very hard for.

It's a tough period for us but that will be the same for Kettering. They will be thinking about getting four points from the two matches and we will be thinking likewise.

We have had both Kettering and Redditch watched of late. Andy Morrison was at Kettering on Saturday when they beat Conference side Stafford Rangers 1-0 in the FA Trophy and they looked a very, very good side.

They are probably as good a side as there is in this league and I think they are still favourites to win the title.

It's going to be very difficult at their place and no different for them at ours.

I watched Redditch win 3-0 at Nuneaton Borough at the weekend and they were outstanding. They played really well and how they are where they are - 18th in the table - will leave many people scratching their heads on that performance.

Redditch find an extra 10 per cent when they play against Worcester and if they find an extra 10 per cent from Saturday we are going to be in serious trouble because they were outstanding.

But form counts for nothing in local derbies, it's all down to the 11 players on the pitch and whichever team wants it the most.

We will have done our homework for both the Redditch and Kettering matches and are under no illusions that they're going to be tough.

If we can come through that series of games and still be in the top nine or 10 teams in the table that will bode well for the rest of the season.

We have got all the top teams to play in January - Workington, Hinckley United and Blyth Spartans.

But they are the best games to have because they can have a big influence on the league.

When the top teams play each other, they are taking points off each other so you are either pushing yourself further away from them, stopping them going above you or preventing them getting away from you.

Also, with the games we have ahead, we are going to need everybody fit. It will test our squad but, with the addition of on-loan Sam Wedgbury and striker Adam Webster, we have got the players who can hopefully keep things fresh. A little bit of rotation should keep everybody on their toes.