THE last two away defeats have brought into focus what we have been trying to achieve over the last nine months. But, despite the losses, we still have a chance of making the Nationwide Conference play-offs. The most important thing for us now is to get a win this Saturday.

It's been noticeable that we have had a hardcore of supporters at home matches throughout the season and there has also been a terrific away following.

The recent defeats have been a devastating blow to the fans but it's not half as much as the blow to the players who have worked hard in trying to bring success to the club. I only have to picture the scenes in the dressing room after the defeats at Scarborough and Barnet to know how much it affects the players. Against Barnet I did not think we could have worked any harder and we created some decent opportunities.

I am aware of the feeling that bringing in an extra striker would have cured our ills. There have been strenuous efforts in trying to bring in one, but two of our latest targets have not come to fruition.

But while we have failed to score only once in 18 matches, we have kept only two clean sheets in the last 10 matches. To be successful, you cannot afford to give anything away and you can't keep going away from home and needing to score three goals to win. Of course we would have liked somebody to score 20 goals for us this season, but it has not happened.

We received many knock-backs from players in the closed season and the squad we have put together has done exceedingly well to produce a meaningful season.

If you look back over the season we have had a few problems: Ben Smith's dislocated shoulder; John's Grant suspension at the start of the season, of which we originally knew nothing about, and then his broken leg; the loss of Mick Galloway, and then the two red cards in the match at Yeovil.

But with six games remaining, seven teams, including us, are still in contention. And with four of our last six matches at Edgar Street, there is still a considerable amount of hope and belief within the club that we can still make the top five.

* Graham Turner was speaking to Ian Morgan.