CHESHAM United need 25 points from their remaining 12 games to win the Southern League Premier Division title.

That is the view of manager Andy Leese after his side closed the gap on leaders Hemel Hempstead to five points with their seventh win in eight games on Tuesday evening.

Hemel stretched their lead to eight points again 24 hours later, but Leese insists anything is still possible this season.

He said: “The players deserve far, far more credit than they’re getting.

“It is still Hemel’s to lose, but anything can happen. As I’ve said for weeks all we can do it match or better what they do.

“But there is no point teams around us dropping points if we don’t win our own games though so we’ve got to focus on what we do.

“It’s going to be interesting though, and I’m not writing off any outcome. Why would you when it’s all still mathematically possible?

“There are so many games in March and we’ll have a clearer idea at the end of the month, but we’ve worked out a points total that we think will win the league.

“It’s probably going to take 95 points – that’s what it took last year.”

Essentially then, Chesham need to maintain their pace.

They have averaged 2.1 points a game all season and to reach Leese’s target they need to finish as they’ve started.

Counting in their favour, is a strike force that is back to it’s deadly best.

Chris Dillon scored a hat-trick in their 4-2 triumph over Weymouth on Tuesday evening to take his tally to 20, while Drew Roberts has 34 to his name so far.

Leese said: “He and Drew have been back among the goals and it was Chris’ turn on Tuesday. I’m delighted for him. He not just an old fashioned number nine, he can finish as well.”

James Potten also found the net on the south coast, taking his total from midfield to 20, and as a squash the Generals have now scored 103 times this season.

Leese said: “We had a great performance down there this time last year, and we repeated in on Tuesday night.

“Our first half was excellent, the ball was moving about quickly and they were lucky we weren’t more goals to the good.

“Their keeper pulled off two or three fantastic saves.

“They got a stunning goal two minutes into the second half and for 15 or 20 minutes we had to defend.

“They got a second and for a few minutes we thought if we didn’t steady it they’d score again.

“But the fourth goal took the wind out of their sails and we saw it out pretty quietly.”

Chesham host Corby on Saturday before going to Burnham on Tuesday evening.