MANAGER Lee Fisher admits it will be an “interesting” finish to the Thurlow Nunn League division one season if his red-hot Young Irons can keep the pressure on in the race for promotion.

Braintree Reserves will head into Saturday’s trip to Diss Town and a home fixture against AFC Sudbury Reserves on Tuesday on the back of a run that has seen them take 22 points from the last available 24.

A 2-0 win against Debenham LC last weekend has propelled them on to the tails of the division’s front runners and Fisher knows a strong finish to the campaign - as they had last year - can see them keep the pressure on, but he is not getting carried away with their chances.

Fisher said: “I think teams have to view us a bit differently now, but we said at the start of the season that the target was top six and that hasn’t changed.

“We are not reassessing at the moment.

“Our target is to stay in touch with the sides at the top as they also keep winning, but there are games coming up when they will be playing each other and we have a chance to make up ground.

“It’s going to be an interesting end to the season.

“There are 18 games left so there’s a lot of football to be played and we will upset a lot of people, especially when they come to our place with the way that we stretch teams on our own pitch.

“We can’t get too far ahead of ourselves, though.

“The lads obviously look at the table and we just say to them to keep doing what they are doing.

“As coaches and a management group, we look at whether we can do a little bit more than just top six.

“I think we can, but the question is can we keep the form going and take points off sides above us.

“Last year, we lost three games in 20-odd at the end of the season and if we can mirror that form again for the rest of the season then you never know.

“It will be exciting and there is a real buzz within the squad - they are flying at the moment.”

Braintree’s win against Debenham came thanks to two goals from striker Joe Jones and Fisher is hoping that other members of his squad can emulate another young forward - Matt Baxter - who has come through the reserves’ ranks to push into first-team manager Brad Quinton’s plans this year.

Fisher added: “Brad told us what his ethos is at the start of the season and how he likes to play and, being a reserve team, we want to try to mirror what the first team are doing.

“We hope that our lads, at some point, will get opportunities to step up and they’ll know straight away what is expected and how the game is played within the club.

“That’s a really big thing for us and I was really pleased to see how they did against Debenham.

“We are seeing massive confidence from the boys now.

“Debenham had been on a really good run and we have now opened a gap on them with games in hand. You can see the confidence rising in them - they are listening to what we’re telling them and their aggression to want to win is really good.

“We didn’t have that last year, but it is there this year and we have lads who want to drive on and really progress in the game.

“It would be great if we could get someone else into Brad’s squad alongside Matt Baxter this year and we’ll have done our job.”