Lee Hughes tells Halesowen to keep fighting until the very end

The Yeltz host Leiston at The Grove tomorrow desperate for a victory to kick-start their survival bid.

Tuesday night’s 5-1 defeat at Lowestoft Town means Halesowen are now nine points from safety with just seven games to play.

But former Albion striker Hughes, who replaced Rob Smith in the hotseat earlier this month, is refusing to give up hope.

He said: “There are still 21 points to play for and we have to try and pick up as many of those as we can.

“We won’t stop fighting, I can promise you that. If we can just get a win on Saturday, then you never know.

“Obviously we are in a position where we need other teams to slip up too.

“I’ve been in this kind of situation before, at the other end of the table with Notts County in 2010.

“We made up around 10 points to win the title at the end of the season. It can be done.”

The Lowestoft defeat was Halesowen’s first with Hughes at the helm, but extended a run of just one win in 15 matches dating back to the turn of the year.

To further compound the misery, skipper Dan Bragoli suffered a rib injury which is expected to keep him out of tomorrow’s game. Hughes continued: “I said when I took over with 10 games to go, we probably needed five wins to stand a chance.

“That is still the case, though there are only seven games left to get them. When you throw in the fact we have only won five games all season, you can see what a tall order it will be.

“There should be a decent crowd tomorrow, with there being no league games. We are going to need everyone behind us.”

At the other end of the table, Stourbridge will be looking to keep the pressure up on leaders Kettering Town by winning away at mid-table Royston Town tomorrow (3pm).

The Glassboys are eight points off the summit with seven matches remaining, but Kettering have had a minor wobble, losing two of their past three matches.

The Poppies will be looking to at least maintain their advantage when they host relegation-threatened St Neots Town.