CARL Macauley says Witton Albion have no intention of letting up now they have banished all possibility they might by drawn into a relegation scrap.

Instead they are looking up.

A 1-0 win against Grantham Town last weekend is a sixth in the past eight Northern Premier League matches, a run that has taken them up to ninth in the table with nine matches left.

The first of those is at Mickleover Sports on Saturday, kick-off 3pm.

While the manager refused to entertain the prospect of a late charge for a promotion play-offs place, he has challenged his players to target last season’s seventh-place finish.

Macauley said: “My message to the players is ‘we’re safe, and we’re not doing down.’

“But I’ve followed that by saying let’s finish as high as we can.

“Our job isn’t done in that respect.”

Stafford Rangers are due next at Wincham Park on Tuesday, kick-off 7.45pm.

After taking maximum points from four of their past five matches in Northwich, Albion are also challenging a perception they are a soft touch on home turf.

Macauley added: “Our form in front of our own supporters has picked up recently.

“We’ll just try to carry on collecting points from here and see where it takes us.

“It’s good to be winning matches because that breeds confidence.”

Meanwhile he said the results of a scan on injured midfielder Will Booth’s knee have revealed damage to an anterior cruciate ligament, ruling him out indefinitely.

Anthony Gardner (hamstring) is ruled out too after limping off during last weekend's encounter with the Gingerbreads, but James Foley is expected to be fit.

Meanwhile Luke Offord, a teenager on loan from Crewe Alexandra, is unavailable to face Mickleover too after sustaining an injury in training on Thursday night.