Hungerford to 'battle on to the end'

Boss Bobby Wilkinson has not given up on his side's promotion hopes this season, despite a recent lean spell

HUNGERFORD manager Bobby Wilkinson has vowed that his side will “battle on to the end” in a bid to revive its Zamaretto League Division One South and West promotion hopes.

A disastrous week that saw Hungerford net only one point from nine leaves them five points adrift off the play-off zone, albeit with two games in hand.

But Hungerford face tricky away games this week, away to fellow promotion hopefuls Paulton Rovers on Saturday, and then to relegation haunted Wimborne Town on Tuesday night.

Wilkinson admits that his side's lean spell - which has seen them collect only five points from six games - is a worry. “I admit I'm hurting,” he said, “but I'm positive and we'll keep going out there trying to win and get there until we can't get there any more.”

“We won't give up while we still have a chance.”

Ryan Crockford and Matt Day were sent off in Monday night's setback at Mangotsfield United, but are available to play this week. Centre back Simon Herbert misses out however after taking a knock at Mangotsfield, and Adam Wallace and Tom Fila remain sidelined for another two weeks.

Wilkinson is also hoping to bring in an goalkeeper from Reading on loan to cover for Kieron Drake, who has been playing on with a dislocated finger.