PLAY with a smile on your faces, and keep the run going. That's the message from AFC manager Mark Morsley to his players as the title race hots up.

AFC face Ryman League division one north games at Northwood on Saturday and at Witham on Tuesday, and Morsley wants the current eight-game unbeaten league run to reach double figures.

"We are positive and enjoying our football," said Morsley. "I've told the players to play with a smile and not worry about the pressure. I will take that."

Leaders Dartford won again on Tuesday, 4-0 at Arlesey, to open up an eight-point gap over second-placed AFC, who have two games in hand.

"They are on a bit of a roll, and we have to try to stick with them. But we are also enjoying a run. It's eight games since our last defeat in the league."

Morsley expects Dartford, AFC and third-placed Ware to pull away from the pack over the last two months of the season, and believes that his team has the potential to overtake the Darts.

"We can both score goals, but I think our defence is better than theirs, and that could prove a key factor," he said.

"But we have to look at our results and performances and not worry about what Dartford are doing.

"There are a lot of games still to go, and March will be a tough month for all the leading teams, so we will keep plugging away.

"I still want automatic promotion, but if we can't get first place, then we must get second to give ourselves a good draw in the play-offs."
On Saturday AFC travel to Northwood seeking revenge for a 3-1 home defeat in November. "They are mid-table and erratic, so it could be tricky," he said.

Witham Town are in the bottom five, currently five points above the relegation places. AFC won 5-1 at King's Marsh.

"But if ever you wanted something to motivate your players, a visit from AFC should do it," said Morsley.

"It's two games we want to win, and should win. But you can't take anything for granted."

He hopes to build on the 5-0 victory over Waltham Abbey at the weekend. "They came with damage limitation in mind, and we put them to the sword."

After a first half which produced just one goal, off visiting defender Steve Mensah, Morsley made changes on the hour, bringing on Chris Bacon.
"We put on a target man and it gave our game a different perspective. We played some fantastic football in the second half."

Morsley also got his wish for goals from players other than leading scorer James Rowe, who had to be content with just one.

Bacon weighed in with one, and Gareth Heath scored two in two minutes. "It was good for Gareth to get back to scoring again," said Morsley.

The League Cup semi-final sees AFC visit premier division Heybridge Swifts on Tuesday, March 4.

"It's the game I wanted. I didn't mind home or away. It's a test against a premier division side, which is what I always look for, and it gives us a chance of making the final."

The other semi-final sees premier division Ramsgate visit division one south Walton Casuals, who beat Carshalton Athletic 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw on Tuesday.

AFC is running a coach to Northwood on Saturday, leaving King's Marsh at 11.15am. To book a seat, call Tommy Crofton on 01787 372137 before 9pm.