**RETFORD MATCH PREVIEW**

We welcome Retford to the Hawthornes this weekend, knowing that if we can get all 3 points it will give us a chance of survival from relegation. The teams around the relegation zone are packed very tightly together, so it may be another couple of weeks before teams start to be 'mathamatically' relegated, but one thing for sure is that a defeat against Retford would stack the odds against us. That is not us trying to be negative or giving up, it is the situation we are in. We will be doing everything we can to make sure that at 5.15pm we are a step closer to where we need to be.

Although I think Retford are safe from relegation, they are very much like us in respect of their inconsistency in form. We both put a couple of results together and then seem to stutter with a poor result or two. This was evident on Wednesday evening at Pontefract. We had been reasonably happy with performances over the 2 or 3 games before that, but Wednesday was a dire performance against a team who are also fighting for their lives. They adapted to the conditions much better than we did, they out fought us for long periods and nearly all their players won their individual battle against ours. We simply cannot afford another performance like that this season. We have asked the players to have a look at themselves after Wednesday and be self-critical. We don't have time for excuses or apologies, we just need them to show us a response on Saturday, as simple as that.

We missed Jake Thompson on Wednesday and he will come straight back in. We also will have Jody Barford back in the squad, but praise goes to Dale Coy who has been brilliant for us when needed recently. The attitude of the subs over the last 2 or 3 games has been fantastic and we may consider freshening things up, especially as a few looked tired midweek. We should also be able to welcome back Zak Brattan in the next couple of weeks, although Saturday has come a little too soon.

We urge all people associated with Brigg Town FC to attend the game on Saturday and encourage the players who have come into the club in impossible circumstances and are making huge personal sacrifices to try and avoid the club facing back to back relegation's. Your vocal support would be hugely appreciated.