BLUES’ boss Gary Bailey is simply looking for “more of the same” from Portland United as they enter the new year.

A stellar 2016 saw the Blues seal the Sydenhams Wessex Division One title, before finishing the calendar year third in the Wessex Premier Division.

The island outfit kick off 2017 at Lymington Town tomorrow (7.45pm) with Bailey insisting “it’s all there for us to play for” in the second half of the campaign.

He told Echosport: “If someone had said to me going into the second half of the season we would be in third, I would have questioned them to start with, and then been delighted to take it!

“It’s all there for us to play

for in the second half of the season.

“We aren’t heaping any pressure on ourselves and it’s a case of more of the same.

“If we can carry on what we have been doing and keep working hard for each other, then anything can happen.”

He added: “We want to stay up there in that top five or six and keep our season alive with something to play for.

“It’s nice to be up there and gives you something on every game.

“If you fall out of that top six and become sort of mid-table mediocrity, I don’t like using that term but, come February, your season has fizzled out and all you are doing is counting out how many games there are until the end of the season.

“That’s not something we want to do.

“It’s a crucial month, we have a big month coming up with some tough games.”

Starting at Lymington, the Blues will be without winger Jamie Beasley, who starts a three-match ban after his sending off at Andover Town.

Midfielder Alex Halloran has made progress on an ankle injury picked up against Swanage however and, after being on the bench against Hamworthy United last time out, could be fit to play some part.

“Alex trained on Thursday and looked okay. He will be in contention to be in the squad again,” Bailey added.