Colin Spence insists Irvine Meadow are looking up rather than over their shoulders as they target a strong finish to the West of Scotland League season.
The Ayrshire outfit moved one step closer to guaranteeing Premier Division safety on Saturday when they claimed a hard fought 2-1 win away to Blantyre Vics.
First half goals from Connor Boyd and Sam McCloy put Meadow in the driving seat at the KG stadium before Scott Gibson netted what proved to be a late consolation for the visitors.
Victory lifts Meadow to mid-table and co-boss Spence reckons just one more win from their final 10 games could be enough to banish fears of being dragged into a seven-team drop zone.
But he's made it clear he won't be content just to settle for safety.
"We can still finish high up this table," insisted Spence.
"We've got games in hand over the teams above and below us and it's up to us to go and put points on the board.
"One more win would take us to 49 points which you'd like to think would see us safe.
"We've a busy April with two games a week coming up so there's an opportunity for us to put together a run and climb a few places.
"Coming to Blantyre, it was all about getting the three points. We did that and hopefully we can now kick on from here."
Meadow lined up in South Lanarkshire with new striker Callum Graham - a midweek signing from Pollok - making his debut up front alongside Graham Boyd.
The pair looked lively in the opening exchanges but it was the hosts who almost made the breakthrough in 18 minutes.
Ronan Kearney's cross from the left found Scott Jarvie alone at the back post but, with the goal at his mercy, the striker could only steer his close-range header back off the upright.
It was a huge-let off for Meadow and they made Blantyre pay by bagging two goals in quick succession.
They took the lead in 27 minutes, Connor Boyd nodding home from a yard out after Jamie Whyte did well to head Mark McLennan's floated free kick back across the face of goal.
Two minutes later it was 2-0, McCloy rifling a half volley into the top corner after a scuffed clearance fell to him on the edge of the box.
Blantyre were left cursing the woodwork again before half-time when Conor O'Donnell's shot came back off the post.
Meadow were perhaps fortunate to take a two-goal lead into the break but they were by far the better side in the second half.
Blantyre goalkeeper Kyle King stuck out a foot to deny Connor Boyd after the striker jinked his way into the box in 64 minutes.
Graham then flashed a free header over the bar from seven yards in 76 minutes as the home goal led something of a charmed life.
Blantyre hadn't posed much of a threat but Gibson rattled home a free-kick in 85 minutes to reduce the deficit and ensure a nailbiting finish. Meadow held firm however to claim a crucial three points.
Spence added: "We created a lot of chances, particularly in the second half, and looked dangerous which was a big improvement on last week."
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