SAFE they may be, but Barnton’s players have been challenged by manager Steve Lloyd to win their three remaining matches.

Jason McShane’s goal against 1874 Northwich in midweek secured for the Villagers a victory they needed to preserve their place in the North West Counties League’s top-flight for next season.

Pressure off, they start the final week of the campaign by hosting Maine Road tomorrow.

“I want nine points,” said Lloyd.

“We don’t deserve to be fourth from bottom, and our target now is to finish as high as we can.

“Look at the table; why can’t we try to finish above Congleton or Barnoldswick?”

Barnton reached a target set by Lloyd when they edged their neighbours, ensuring their stay in the Premier Division will extend to a second year.

He told the Guardian it was important to for his side to ensure survival on their own terms.

“We made it to that 40-point threshold,” he added.

“The last thing I wanted was for us to be standing around in the dressing room staring into phones and hoping a result somewhere else had gone for us.

“We’ve made it with something to spare, and it will stop people from saying ‘they scraped it’ or that we ‘got lucky.’

“I don’t want us to be in a position where we’re made favourites to go down next year because we only just stayed up this time around.”

He welcomes back Callum Richards and Jordan Stafford for a meeting with Maine Road, opponents against which they lost narrowly before Christmas.

Young wide man Reece Dwyer, who has played for Barnton’s reserves in the Cheshire League this season, has been called up as well.

He follows George Webster, who has been given a chance to impress in recent weeks.