ALMONDSBURY TOWN boss Richard Thompson has remained upbeat about his side’s promotion chances after Reading Town extended their lead further at the top of the Hellenic League Premier.

For the second weekend running, Almondsbury joined the majority of sides having a forced week off due to the freezing conditions while Reading capitalised, winning 3-0 at Ascot United in the division’s only game of the day.

The gap between the top two is now 13 points, but Almondsbury have three games in hand and Thompson believes his side could even benefit from the likely scenario of playing two games a week for the rest of the season in order to catch up.

“We are now three games behind them so they will take some catching up but we will do what we can do, he said.

“We’re not going to be in a backlog but there’s a big chunk from now until the end of the season where we will probably play Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday-Wednesday.

“But that keeps the consistency going and if we can get on a run of winning games it will be nice to play every week. We’re playing Reading twice which is a big chunk of it.

“We will try and keep the squad together, and if we can add one or two over the next few weeks to keep the numbers up.”

Almondsbury have not played a game since December 15 - their only defeat of the league campaign at Witney United - and Thompson says his side are desperate to get back into action, particularly former Yate Town striker Aaron Blakemore who is still waiting to make his debut for the club.

Thompson said: “We trained last Saturday and Aaron trained like I’ve never seen him before. He said he just wanted to play some football which was refreshing on his part and my part.

“We’ve had a few training sessions and the boys are really keen, they are gagging for a game to be fair, we just want some football.”

Meanwhile, Almondsbury have been boosted by winger Ross Stearn’s decision to stay at the club after an approach by Southern League outfit Mangotsfield United.

“Ross feels he’s playing football week in and week out and it’s going well,” said Thompson.

“He is settled now after six months of moving about, he’s now playing and doing ok, he’s got more consistency in his game so he’ll see it through to the end of the season and assess it then.”

The entire Hellenic League schedule has been hit this weekend by the heavy snow across the country.