Can we still do it? With a bit of luck and a fair wind, of course we can.  

Step 2 survival has come down to the last 10 games starting with a pivotal visit to Salisbury tomorrow who we ideally need to prevent getting away from us and opening up an eight-point gap.

Victory  on the road in Wiltshire would not only put us two points behind the Whites but also end a run of four straight defeats that has seen Welling and St. Albans sneak ahead of us, the first of whom have a tricky tie at Truro while St Albans face bottom club Weymouth.

“I can’t do anything about the games that have gone but we now have 10 huge ones,” said Gavin Macpherson. “We are one of five teams below Salisbury scrapping to get out of it but winning this game would pull them right into it too.”

With Jack Smith ruled out with an ankle injury sustained in training, new teenage on-loan midfielder Harry Sidwell comes into consideration  for a game Gavin Macpherson recognises must yield some kind of positive result to keep our hopes on track.

It’s tight as heck around the drop zone and keeping pace with those around us is key at the business end of the season.

 “As the points whittle down, obviously it becomes more critical. Not so long ago we were talking about 90 points available, now it’s 30. I’ve just got to make sure we pick up enough of them,” said Gavin.

“The last four games have focussed the mind again. I wouldn’t say it was complacency after those four wins because the defeats have been against really tough sides except perhaps Tonbridge which everyone knows we should have won.”

“Salisbury have a really good set-up and could cause us problems. But we’ve had two good training sessions and the boys have assured me more than ever that they intend to fight for everything. They understand the magnitude of what’s ahead of them.”

 AW