WITH just five games remaining in this season's Evo-Stik Division One North campaign, Radcliffe Borough boss Danny Johnson wants his side to relax and enjoy playing their football.

Boro, who slipped to 20th place on goal difference following Prescot Cables' win on Tuesday, remain six points above the relegation zone after other results went their way last weekend.

And with fellow strugglers New Mills having just one more game in hand on the Stainton Park outfit, Johnson knows his side's chances of beating the drop is back in their own hands as they head into a crucial Easter period.

"What we now need to do is play a bit more football and express ourselves a little bit because we have been a bit tense over the past few weeks with results not going our way," he told the Radcliffe Times.

"We beat Burscough by knocking the ball long and getting in behind them but that's not the way I want us to play. I believe we have the players to really test teams.

"The pressure may be off a little bit but we have got to find the balance between winning matches and playing some football."

Following a weekend off, Boro travel to Ossett Town on Saturday before entertaining league leaders Salford City at Stainton Park on Monday, with Johnson believing another four points will guarantee the club's safety.

"I said last week we needed a few favours but now it's back in our own hands so we need to focus on what we do," he said.

"We just need to pick up points from our remaining five games. We still need another four points to be really safe so I'd be happy if we draw every game."

Eighteenth-placed Ossett Town, who lost at Clitheroe last time out, are nine points above Boro heading into Saturday's match, while high-flyers Salford City are unbeaten since early March, but Johnson believes his side will go into the games in high spirits and looking to surprise following some encouraging performances in recent weeks.

"The lads will go to Ossett looking to win, because although results haven't gone for us lately, we know the performances have been okay," he said.

"I'm confident we are capable of shocking Salford City because we are putting together a side that I believe will be good enough to take points off these bigger teams.

"It's only a matter of time before we do give someone a good beating. We know that Salford have some good players but if they have a bad day and we have a good day, then who knows what might happen."

Defender Richard Smith is unavailable for Saturday's game but Johnson is expecting influential striker Steve Foster to be back in contention along with Danny Lambert, who missed the defeat against Mossley a fortnight ago with illness. However forward Sam McMahon is likely to miss out with a knee injury.

"I think Saturday's match will come too soon for Sam. He's got medial ligament damage to his knee. I'd say he's got a 50/50 chance of playing. It's disappointing because he's been in great form for us recently."