GARY Bailey admits his side’s challenge for the Sydenhams Wessex League Division One crown has delighted him as a manager but is fully aware it is only “half a job done” so far.

The Blues are set to visit Moneyfields in the Sydenhams Wessex League Cup this afternoon in what the boss described as a “bonus game” to help his side, who have been thwarted by the wet weather in recent weeks (3pm).

But, as well as wanting to perform well in the cup, Portland’s main objective is to bag league silverware come the end of the campaign and they currently hold an eight-point lead at the summit at present.

In an interview with Echosport last weekend, Blues’ skipper Lewis Whyton, who is set for a lengthy absence having had surgery on his knee the previous week, admitted he would be “annoyed” if his side didn’t go on to claim the league title.

Asked if he echoed his captain’s thoughts, manager Bailey said: “Halfway through I can’t be denying it, we are in a great position.

“Our results and league position with goals for and against speak for themselves.

“From that point of view I couldn’t be any more delighted with our first half of the season but I am mindful that we are only halfway through.

“We are not getting ahead of ourselves, yes we are in a good position and of course we would be disappointed if we didn’t carry it on after putting ourselves in this position but there is a lot of football to be played yet.

He added: “The players are full of confidence and so they should be, they deserve to be and they deserve all the praise they are getting at the moment.

“We keep stressing to them it’s all about not getting too carried away with a win and, if a defeat comes, it’s all about not getting too low with the lows as well.

“From my point of view as a manager and looking long term, it’s only half a job done at the moment and we still have the other half.

“Our aspirations have moved from consolidation to a genuine title challenge now. Nobody is saying it’s won or it’s a foregone conclusion but we have got ourselves in a great place.”