CHALFONT St Peter are hoping for a strong finish to the year to reach 30 points by January 1 and begin the long slog away from the Southern League Central Division relegation zone.

They were beaten 2-0 by Northwood on Saturday but bounced back with a 2-1 win over Chertsey on Tuesday night and manager Danny Edwards is hoping another victory tomorrow, when they play bottom club Ashford, will continue the forward shift.

He said: “We want to get as close to 30 points as we can by the beginning of the year, then you can be confident of picking up another 15 points or so to get to that magic 42-point mark.

“It’s about points on the board at this stage and we need to start moving towards mid-table.”

Scoring goals will be key, and in former Watford striker Scott Fitzgerald they have someone who knows where the target is.

Edwards said: “He was disappointed he didn’t score against his old club Northwood, but he got one on Tuesday and that’s 12 or 13 for him now.

“In a struggling team that’s quite a good number.

“But it’s not because he’s been there and done it. He works as hard as anyone and he is really good in the changing room.

“He wants Chalfont St Peter to do well.”

Anthony Lennon also scored against Chertsey, but new signing Evandro Delgado was the difference after joining from Harrow.

On the back of that victory, Chalfont go to an Ashford side with just one win to their name desperate for another three points.

Edwards said: “They’re bottom so it’s big game for us.”