NEIL BAKER has urged Slough Town to keep the pressure on in the race for the Southern Premier Division title after an impressive start to the new season.

The Rebels will usher in the new year sitting second in the Southern Premier Division table, seven points behind Leamington but with two games in hand.

They can also look forward to a Berks & Bucks Senior Cup semi-final clash with Maidenhead United after a 3-0 win against MK Dons at Arbour Park on Tuesday.

Slough joint-manager Baker is delighted with their work in 2016 and he believes they are in a good position to challenge for honours in the new year.

He explained to the Observer: “We’re sitting on 49 points and tracking 98, which would have won the league probably in the last three of four years.

“We’re delighted and just need to keep on banging the wins out. Just keep playing and keep the pressure on other teams around us.

VIDEO: Mark Nisbet reflects on the 3-0 win against MK Dons on Tuesday.

“We’ve got some good players in the side and obviously would love to win the title, every team would, but we are in a position where we’re in touching distance at Christmas.

“I know there is a seven-point gap and we’ve got a couple of games in hand. Points in the bag is better but it allows us to get close and as long as we’re in touching distance, it gives us a shot.

“The first port of call is to try to get ourselves into the play-offs and we probably need 10 or 11 wins to do that.”

Having beaten MK Dons in the cup, Slough return to league action with a game against Hayes & Yeading United at Holloways Park next Tuesday (3pm).

The Rebels will then welcome Chesham United to Arbour Park on January 2, and Baker would be happy with a minimum of four points over the holidays.

“You get the local derbies this time of year and form goes out the window,” he said. “Obviously we would love to get six points but if we got four, I don’t think it would be a bad Christmas.

Slough Observer:

PHOTO: Elijah Adebayo celebrates the first of his two goals in the victory at Arbour Park on Tuesday.

“It will be tough against Hayes & Yeading over at Holloways Park, which would have been played on the day before. It might be a scrappy game if the pitch hasn’t been rolled.

“We know the managers there are really pushing to try to turn it around.

“It’s been tough for them but I know that those two will get it right, so we've got to make sure that we're professional and try to do a job."