ABERYSTWYTH Town manager Matthew Bishop is looking for his side to stay focused on making into the play-offs for Europe, after their costly defeat to Cefn Druids last weekend.

The result meant that the Seasiders missed out on a top six position at the league split, but they can still qualify for the play-offs by securing seventh spot at the end of the season.

After starting the season with a new squad and management team, and having to play their first 10 league games away from Park Avenue, a top six position ultimately proved beyond them.

It remains a season of transition for Aber, but Bishop will look to get the balance right in their remaining 11 league matches, starting at home against Cardiff Met this Saturday (ko 5.15pm).

“I suppose when you look at the season we’ve had, and the start we had, to be in the mix for the top six is a credit to the players,” said Bishop.

“In many ways it’s nice to have the monkey off our backs, because all everyone’s been talking about is making it into the top six. Do we deserve to be in there? I don’t know.

“Today we didn’t really apply ourselves at times, I don’t know whether the occasion got to the players.

“Cefn Druids are a good team, they came here with a good game plan, and I don’t think our shape was quite right in the first half.

“The shape we finished with was better, it’s the one we should probably have started with, so I suppose I will take the blame for that one.

“At the end of the day, we are where we are. I know that the Board are disappointed, and the fans are disappointed, but there is nobody more disappointed than the players.

“We’ll dust ourselves off now for a tough second half of the season. The priority is to win as many games as we can, and make home form vital.”

The Seasiders had bolstered their squad last week with the addition of strikers John Owen and Lee Healey, and midfielders Elliott Scotcher and Jamie Crowther, and all four players figured on Saturday.

Bishop will be looking for his new additions to play key roles, with midfielder Joe Clarke having left the club to sign for his local club Llanelli.

Ricky Watts has also left Park Avenue to return to his hometown club of Haverfordwest County, and it is possible that Chris Jones could be heading for Newtown after the Robins put in seven days’ notice of approach on the former Neath and TNS player.

“We’ve made some additions this week and I think all of them are going to bring something different to the squad,” said Bishop.“I said to the players there is competition for places, and it’s about performances.

“The challenge for me now is to get the right formula, and a winning mentality that will get the results.

“I wanted to bring players in, and I think we saw glimpses of what they can potentially bring to the club.

“We have talked about needing a front man to take pressure off Luke Borrelli. We’ve had one or two injuries, and there are some tired legs.”

Meanwhile chairman Tony Bates revealed that the Club was due to meet this week after the shock news that new striker Healy had been arrested by police after his first game for the club on Saturday.

Healey was jailed for 12 weeks at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on Monday after admitting breaching a restraining order by sending threatening text messages to his ex-partner.

"We signed him in good faith, but the board will decide what action is taken," said Bates.

“He can’t be transferred to another club because he has already played for two clubs this season, and FAW rules say he can’t now play for another club.

“I am naturally concerned about bringing the club into disrepute, and the board will have to make a decision about what to do."

The Club hopes to boost the crowd this Saturday when it be hosts a Free Family Fun Day on Saturday, which traditionally attracts between 250 to 300 additional supporters.

It will consist of several free activities around the ground for children, from 1.45pm. Those who attend the event can remain for the game, which kicks off at the later time of 5.15pm to facilitate television coverage of all six decisive games in the Welsh Premier.