Stockport County manager Ian Bogie is looking for his players to give their all in the fight for survival after picking up just one point from the Easter double-header.
Jon Macken scored in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Cheshire rivals Macclesfield Town, before County succumbed to a 2-1 home defeat to Grimsby Town on Easter Monday.
The two results saw the Hatters slip into the relegation zone, but Bogie praised the spirit of his players and called on them to show more grit and determination.
“In terms of spirit I’ve got to be pleased,” he told Pure Radio. “But they’ve got to show that in every remaining game.
“It looks as though it’s going right down to the wire. It’s very, very tight.
“It’s now in the history book. The games come thick and fast and we’ve got to regroup. We have to play with energy, enthusiasm, desire and grit and determination.”
In Saturday’s game, Matthew Barnes-Homer headed the Silkmen in front just after the hour, before the experienced Macken earned a share of the spoils 15 minutes from time.
On Easter Monday, Ross Hannah and Sam Hatton put Grimsby two up before Alex Kenyon replied for the Hatters – who had Andy Halls sent off late on – but it was not enough.
And with only four games remaining, the former Gateshead boss wants his players to continue putting in the effort and ignore what teams around them are doing.
“I’ve got a group of players to work with until the end of the season and I’ve got to make sure we get over the finishing line,” he added.
“We just have to make sure we get our own house in order and accumulate as many points as we possibly can.
“We got to make sure we fight tooth and nail and give everything for the cause to make sure we stay in this division and build on it for next season.
“I’m a big believer in if you keep working hard you’ll get your rewards.”
Non-League Round-up
Blue Square Bet Premier
Hyde took another step to securing their Blue Square Premier status over Easter weekend, first shocking high-flying Wrexham 2-0 – their fifth straight win – before being held 1-1 at Barrow.
Blue Square Bet North
Lee Sinnott’s Altrincham continued their promotion push with a 1-0 win against Vauxhall Motors on Good Friday, but were disappointed to go down 2-0 to runaway league leaders Chester on Easter Monday.
Stalybridge Celtic will feel they have dropped four points from their two games as they led against both Droylsden and Colwyn Bay before conceding equalisers in 1-1 and 3-3 draws respectively.
After the Good Friday stalemate with the Celts, the Bloods faced a trip to Ellesmere Port where they succumbed to a heavy 4-0 defeat to Vauxhall Motors.
Evo-Stik Premier Division
FC United of Manchester enjoyed a productive Easter programme with a 5-1 win at Kendal Town followed up with a 4-0 home defeat of Stocksbridge Park Steels.
Ashton United are rooted in mid-table after consecutive goalless draws against Frickley Athletic at Hurst Cross and away at Stafford Rangers.
Evo-Stik League Division One North
Trafford secured maximum points from the Easter weekend to strengthen their bid for a play-off place, with Garry Vaughan’s men beating Garforth Town before hitting Salford City for six.
Curzon Ashton recovered from a 2-0 defeat at Ossett Albion to smash fellow Yorkshire side Wakefield 10-1 on Easter Monday – which included six goals for Kristian Dennis.
New Mills beat Lancaster City at the Giant Axe before drawing with fellow-promotion hopefuls Mossley, who had beaten Radcliffe Borough at Seel Park two days earlier.
A bad week for Salford City was compounded with their result at Shawe View, which followed defeat at Moor Lane to league leaders Skelmersdale United.
Ramsbottom United lost ground in the play-off hunt as defeat at home to Farsley was followed with a 2-2 draw at Stainton Park against Radcliffe Borough.
Picture courtesy of Ricard16, via WikiCommons, with thanks.
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