United Services Portsmouth need to be 'mentally and physically' prepared for intriguing race for Wessex League Division 1 promotion

That is the message from US boss Glenn Turnbull with just a point separating the top five teams in the division at present.

Table-toppers USP have amassed 45 points from their opening 21 games this season, but second-placed Hythe & Dibden and Downton – in third – have the same number.

Meanwhile, fourth-placed Andover New Street and place below Alton have achieved a point less than the top three pacesetters.

US Portsmouth boss Turnbull set his side the goal of finishing in the top four and securing promotion to the Wessex Premier at the start of the season.

That is still well within USP’s reach, but he understands how tight it could be in the final run-in.

‘We’re two thirds in, there’s 15 games to go out of 36,’ said Turnbull.

‘We’ve got to focus on the run-in and make sure we’re prepared both mentally and physically as we were in August.

‘We’ve struggled against teams that are lower down in the league.

‘Not necessarily lesser teams, just teams lower down in the table.

‘We’ve got to be prepared that teams are going to want to play and beat us.’

United Services continue their promotion quest at Romsey Town on Saturday.

They have very little time to recover as they then welcome Petersfield Town to Burnaby Road 48 hours later.

Despite the quick turnaround, Turnbull has no concerns about his troops fatiguing with a hectic schedule on the horizon.

‘Fitness has never been an issue for us, I wouldn’t say.

‘We’ll have the boys ready.

‘The quick turnaround is a little bit more than we would have liked, but that’s our doing.

‘We’ve tried to build a squad so we’ve got two players for every position.’

Turbull will have a full squad to chose from other than the suspended Tom Cain at Romsey