BRIDGWATER Town face another test of their promotion credentials this weekend as fourth-placed Bitton visit Fairfax Park (3pm).

The Robins were humbled 4-1 at home to fellow high-fliers Willand Rovers last weekend to lose their grip on top spot.

Town are second on 42 points from 20 games; Bitton have 37 from just 15 going into the weekend.

Player-manager Dave Pearse said: "We actually started OK but gifted them two goals and made it hard for ourselves. We had some big players out and that showed.

“A few of our players hid a bit when the going got tough.

“Tom Ellis, Mark Armstrong and Jake Viney are back this weekend and we will have to perform well - Bitton are on a roll and they have some quality players.”

Town have snapped up Roman Glass St George midfielder Joe Swift to add to the competition for places over the busy festive fixture list, with a trip to Wellington to come on Boxing Day.

Assessing the season so far, Pearse said: "“League-wise, it has gone well.

“If you had offered me this position by Christmas at the start of the season I would definitely have taken it.

“We are still in the mix and we have points on the board, so other teams are playing catch-up.

“There are certain games when I think one point could have been three, but I can’t be too critical of our league form.

“The disappointment has been in the cups.

“We set targets of going one round further than last season in the FA Cup and the FA Vase and we didn’t manage to do so in either.”

Prior to the season, Pearse had set a target of finishing in the top four, an ambition which has not changed drastically despite Town’s impressive start.

“Of course we would love to go up - Bridgwater are a Southern League club in the Western League - but equally a top four finish would still represent progress from last season,” he said.

“We would need to put together a really good run, with a few favours from other teams, if we were to push on and win it, but either way I think we will be well set to challenge again next season.”

Elsewhere this weekend, Middlezoy Rovers travel to Ilminster Town in the Somerset County League Premier Division and Bridgwater Town Reserves are at Keynsham Town Reserves in Division 1.