Uxbridge have six games to save their season according to boss Tony Choules.

The Reds began the campaign with high hopes of promotion, but Saturday's home defeat to high-flying Bedworth was their fourth in a row and leaves them 18th in the standings, 12 points shy of the playoff scrap.

Choules admits his team are currently nearer relegation than a tilt at glory.

However, he believes if they can close a smaller eight - point gap and reach the top half of the table by Christmas Saturday then more ambitious dreams can be rekindled.

He said: "I have just given the boys a target of being in the top 10 by December 27, so we have to really do something in the six games before then.

"If you are around halfway in the standings at Christmas you have a chance of coming into the playoff picture late as it is a long four months until the end of the season.

"At the moment we are not far from trouble, but this is a tight league and six or seven results on the spin can catapult you up the table."

To respond to Choules ' battle cry the Reds must solve problems of poor decision making and a lack of ruthlessness in front of goal, both of which were in evidence in defeat to the greenbacks.

Two mistakes in quick succession gifted a 27th minute opener to Alex Naughton and while Daniel Creaney hit an unstoppable second 12 minutes after the break, Uxbridge missed a glut of chances of their own, many of them in a grandstand finish after Kevin Warner had pulled one back 14 minutes from time.

Choules believes his team's difficulties at both ends are a result of a lack of mental fibre.

He added: "We are not mentally tough enough but then the modern footballer believes other things are more important than mental strength.

"They talk about physique, fitness and eating right, yet Wayne Carter - absent from Saturday's action - disproves all those theories as he has to be a stone overweight but has one of the best brains in non-league football."

Uxbridge begin their six game quest at home to playoff contenders Rugby on Saturday.

There was no joy either for the Gazettes other two club's in Southern Central action.

Northwood saw substitute Ismael Ehui sent off as they lost 2-0 at home to in-form Chalfont St Peter, Aaron Lansiquot's double doing the damage.

And AFC Hayes are still propping up the rest after a Jerome Eccleston goal was not enough to prevent them going down 3-1 away to Aylesbury.