FEBRUARY is shaping up to be one of the most important months in Basingstoke Town's season.

A total of seven Ryman premier division matches are scheduled, and with 21 points up for grabs it's the most available since September of last year.

A good showing and return from those games will provide the club with a much better outlook in terms of its Conference South ambitions.

Will they make the new non-league set-up comfortably or continue to hover around the magical 13th placing and face a battle to the wire?

Of course, once February is over, there are still 11 games throughout March, April and May - enough time to make amends for any further potential bad spell.

But Town boss Ernie Howe is hoping it doesn't come to that, and is urging his side to make the most of a full league programme in February.

With matches coming thick and fast, it certainly won't be easy, especially given Town's recent results, stuttering form and injuries.

But six of their opponents in February are below Town in the table. Kettering are the only top half side, in ninth. Town's fixtures are against Ford United (Tuesday, Feb 3), Braintree Town (Saturday, Feb 7), Northwood (Tuesday, Feb 10), Kettering Town (Saturday, Feb 14), Bedford Town (Saturday, Feb 21), St Albans City (Tuesday, Feb 24) and Billericay Town (Saturday, Feb 28).

Only two of those matches - Braintree and Bedford - are at the Camrose, which may prove to be a blessing.

Town have only won seven out of 20 games at home in all competitions. The last victory came back on December 9 against neighbours Fleet in the Hampshire Senior Cup.

Their away performances have been significantly better and the reason why they are still handily placed to make an end-of-season charge.

However, five on-the-road trips over the month will certainly provide a challenge.

Town are out for revenge against Braintree, Bedford and Billericay for defeats inflicted earlier in the campaign, and to maintain 100 per cent records versus Ford and Northwood. They drew with Kettering and St Albans City.

Currently 15th with 34 points from 27 games, Town are out to increase their tally by three with a win over 10th placed Bishop's Stortford at the Camrose tomorrow.

The league is very tight this season as, apart from runaway leaders Canvey Island, all teams are capable of regularly beating each other.

It has made the 2003-2004 campaign an inconsistent one all round.

The removal of that trait in their ranks will help Town make the Conference South the way they should do - in comfort.

The right set of results from February's fixtures would be a grand place to start ensuring that.