CARETAKER-BOSS John Snape has urged the Worcester City faithful to get behind the Blue and Whites in the pursuit of a vital victory which could secure their National League North status.
A narrow 1-0 defeat at Chorley on Good Friday (April 14) was followed up by a vital point in a 0-0 draw with Stockport County on Monday in a performance which encouraged the City chief.
After the Easter programme, City remain in 19th place, level on points with Gainsborough Trinity, who occupy the final place in the drop zone, although with a significantly better goal difference.
City’s survival will all but be confirmed if they pick up three points against big-spending visitors Salford City on Saturday at the Victoria Ground and Gainsborough suffer defeat at home to Kidderminster Harriers.
City visit champions-elect AFC Fylde in their final game next Saturday, while Gainsborough head to FC United of Manchester. Winger Chekaine Steele will miss both matches after suffering a hamstring injury on Monday, but Jordan Murphy, who also limped out against Stockport, is expected to be fit to face Salford, who sit just outside the play-off places.
“All we have got to do is win the next two games and we’ll be safe, that’s the message to the players and fans,” Snape said.
“Come along and help us and let’s go and get those two valuable wins.”
Monday’s draw with the play-off chasers County marked the return of Junior English after injury to the line-up as Snape and Danny Jackman chose a front three of Cieron Keane, Murphy and Steele.
City will feel unfortunate not to have taken all three points after the front-line proved more than a match for their former Football League opponents.
Ian Ormson in the Stockport goal was kept busy, saving well from Kuda Muskwe, Cieron Keane and Murphy.
The best of the three chances fell to Muskwe who headed towards the bottom corner but Ormson threw himself across goal to get a big hand to the ball and tip it behind for a corner.
Stockport’s best chance came from Scott Duxbury, midway through the second half as the full-back drove a vicious strike goalwards but could only rattle Nathan Vaughan’s crossbar.
In the closing stages Stockport pressed for a winner but they could find no way through the resolute City defence.
Speaking after the game, Snape hailed his side’s ‘positive and determined’ performance.
“We made enough chances and if we do the same on Saturday I think we can put some away and get the positive result we need,” he added.