ALMONDSBURY TOWN boss Paul Weeks says his side are in a better position to win the Hellenic Premier League than they were a year ago with the new season due to kick-off on Tuesday.

The Almonds finished the last campaign as the best form team in the league to finish fourth but were going through a transitional period in the earlier months of the season where they dropped crucial points.

Now Weeks is confident his side are in a much better position having kept most of last season’s squad together along with the additions of Kacey Johnstone, Matt Williams and Simon Gilbert.

The manager has never made any secret of his ambition to take the side into the Southern League and came so close two years ago when Almondsbury only missed out on goal difference following a defeat on the final day.

The SBJ Insurance Brokers League Challenge Cup triumph at the end of last season was Weeks’ first trophy as Almonds boss and he hopes to add the league crown to that this time around.

“That is our main priority and we’re not far away from that,” said Weeks.

“We missed out by two goals two years ago and we were five points away last year.

“We’re in a better situation than we were this time last year. There were about about six home points we lost when we were in that transitional period last season but we should be there or thereabouts. “Hopefully we’ll go one step further and win the league this year but there are a lot of good sides.”

Almondsbury begin their campaign with a trip to Wantage Town on Tuesday night but will be without five players. New signing Gilbert (ankle) and midfielder Paul Fowler are injured, John Lock misses the first two games through suspension, Adam Cole is away and Johnstone is getting married.

But Weeks said: “We’re ready to rock and roll.”

“They’re a good team, Wantage have brought in some good players so it’s going to be a tough one, but we’re prepared.”