SATURDAY’S dogged 23-19 win over a battling Oakmeadians side maintained Maidenhead’s momentum into the second half of the season, giving coach Simon Edwards the confidence to target a 100 per cent winning run in.
He said: “I thought Saturday was a big step up for us. It was a genuine battle and we responded to it.
“It was their (Oakmeadians) first loss at home for two and a half seasons. It's an amazing record and they were fighting for their lives to defend it.
“Maybe in the last couple of seasons those are the games we would have lost.
“But we took everything they could throw at us and each time we came back to score. We were clinical.”
The win was particualrly important to Edwards, as it brought a successful conclusion to the first half of his promtion campaign.
He said: “We've played eveyone in the league now.
“We know their strengths and weaknesses and whether its the title or the play-off spot is now in our hands.”
He also issued a warning to the rest of the league, adding: “We’re nowhere near our best yet.
“There’s still a lot of improvements to be made.
“We’re going to increase our fitness levels and we’re hoping to have Drikus (Mienie), Rob Bryant, Rene Dance and Pete Nisbet back after Christmas.
“We haven’t had a full strength squad to chose from all season and we’re six points clear of the team below us.
“I don’t believe – unless we have a catastrophe with injuries – that anyone can catch us.”
Edwards has already identified the three main threats to a successful run in, saying: “Swanage,
Oakmeadians and Chippenham. Those are my three.
“The rest are going to be battling to avoid relegation.”
However, he did acknowledge several other sides, adding: “We do have other tough fixtures to come.
“Windsor and Abbey away are two of those. But the other hard ones are all at home.”

Maids have no game tomorrow (Saturday), as the players take a well earned rest.
Edwards, however, has divisional coaching duties to attend to and jetted out to Alicante in Spain yesterday (Thursday) for five days training with his South West Colts side, culminating in a clash with the Spanish under 21s.
Then it is back home for the England trials at Castlecroft, when Edwards will be hoping to get some of his youngsters into the national side.