Wealdstone boss Gordon Bartlett has dropped his broadest hint yet that his side could produce a late surge for the Ryman Premier play-offs.

Buoyed by his team's ruthless dismantling of Harrow Borough Bartlett believes his side possess the tools to build on their current eighth position and has not ruled out their chances of barging their way into the chasing pack.

The Stones manager is rarely one for talking up his team's promotion chances at any stage of the campaign, yet his pre-season endorsement that the current squad is the best he has worked with is ringing true.

Bartlett believes a good points haul this month could help create the platform from which Stones can launch a genuine bid for the play-offs.

He takes his side to Boreham Wood this Saturday before Billericay visit Grosvenor Vale on January 10. Stones travel to Ramsgate and Tooting & Mitcham United respectively on January 17 and 31, games sandwiched by a home clash with Hendon on January 24.

"We've got a week to enjoy the success of Saturday and we'll go to Boreham Wood searching for the three points," said the manager. "We're now in the top eight and I said at the start of the season I wanted a top half finish. Now we are where we want to be can we press on and cement a place there?

"Maybe we could push on a little bit and get into the top three. I will start considering that at the end of January, as the results from this month will give a clearer indication."

Wealdstone have played up to three games more than some of the sides around them in the table but Bartlett is not phased by the task ahead.

"The ability is there," he added. "If you had said to me before the start of the season we would have 31 points from 21 games at this stage I would have been happy. But as it stands we've played 23 games and that shows we have dropped points along the way.

"It will take one hell of a new year to get into the play-off places but a target of nine points from this month is the sort of thing you have to achieve to start talking about it."

Boreham Wood drew 1-1 with Hendon on Saturday and included debutant left-back Danny Murphy, who sealed a switch from Harrow Borough days before Christmas.

"Boreham Wood have signed quite a few new players and, by all accounts, were unlucky to draw with Hendon," added Bartlett. "They have a decent pitch over there and we'll go into it with no fear. There is a real air of confidence in the squad and a genuine belief in one another."

And does the Stones boss have a New Years Resolution?

"I've been here 13 seasons and in the last 12 I have finished higher than the season before. I would like to maintain that record."

BLOB Ben Clarke has been loaned out to Buckingham Town, Stones boss Gordon Bartlett said the move would give Clarke the chance to get more game time under his belt and insists he still has an integral part to play for the club.