“We want to catch the band of teams above us. Obviously, we’ve been set back today but we have to dust ourselves and get ready for the next one,” said Weston manager Scott Bartlett.

He believes his team still has what it takes to challenge the clubs at the top of the table, despite their most recent 3-1 loss to Welling.

“How do we get to that next band where we’re knocking on the door of the bigger clubs that are near the playoffs. Certainly, the potential is there, and the group is there. So that’s up to me, Scottie (Scott Rogers), and the staff to see how we get to that next level.”

Bartlett’s side suffered a heart-breaking last-minute defeat to Welling FC on Saturday in a game in which they were the better side for 90 minutes but conceded two goals in the last three minutes of added time.

The result leaves Weston 14th place in the league and 15 points off the playoff places.

Weston Mercury: Scott Bartlett.Scott Bartlett. (Image: Josh Thomas)

However, the Seagulls have only played 17 games this season and still have games in hand against the teams that surround them in the table, leaving opportunity to move up throughout the rest of the season.

Bartlett explained how his team can make the most of their opportunities after Saturday’s bittersweet match.

He said: “I thought the performance level was there. Again, I thought without hitting top gear we were pretty good really.

“As a team we gave quite a good account of ourselves today. But, we have to make sure that when we are that dominant, be on the front foot, be aggressive. We played in a slightly different way today but in all truth, we probably didn’t work their keeper enough.

“We’ve got good players we know that. We’ve just got to make sure that whoever plays in whatever system that we’re knocking at the door more often rather than just keeping good possession. We get into some fantastic areas, we did in the last game as well, got into areas that other teams can’t get into. We’ve just got to make sure we’re a little bit more clinical or calmer in those areas because truth be told Welling got away with one.

“We’ve got 10 league games left and we just want to get as many points as possible.”

Weston face Maidstone and Farnborough in their next fixtures, two teams above them in the table that could provide the southwest team with some vital points.

The Seagulls then take on Taunton Town on March 29 in a local derby that could be pivotal in deciding where the two Somerset sides end their season.