LEE Ashcroft believes another six points should be enough to secure Kendal Town's Premier Division status ahead of this weekend's trip to title favourites Telford United, writes Richard Daniels.
Meanwhile, Town boss Ashcroft continued this week to add new names to his squad as the bid to find a winning formula goes on.
Ashcroft was working on another move after Saturday's 3-1 defeat at home to Burscough, which lifted the visitors into the play-off places, and left the side with one win to show in their last five league matches.
The target this time was Lee Mulvaney, who is believed to have become disaffected at Premier rivals Marine. The 25-year-old striker/wide midfielder was due for talks at Thursday's training session with a view to joining the club.
Ashcroft said: "He's a class act on his day. He's ripped us apart twice when playing for Marine, and scored against us here. He's had a fall-out with the manager and is another player I've being trying to get and thankfully he's decided to come."
The manager, however, remained non-commital about Mulvaney's role for Saturday.
"Everyone's being given a chance from me and it's come to the stage of the season where I'm looking for players to stand up and be counted.
"We're in a relegation battle now but Telford are having a bad spell this month even though they are the leaders.
"There were 2,000 fans boo-ing at them on Saturday and if we get off on the front foot and get at them, we could be a surprise - the message is write us off at your peril."
Ashcroft added: "Six points should see us safety and the next two games at home to Leek and Frickley (March 17 and 24) are massive ones and I want everyone in Kendal to come down and show their support."
Full back Paul Byrne has a slight hamstring worry but is expected to be fit for Saturday's match with Rick Whiteside expected to return and a full-strength squad to pick from.
n Former Town favourite Stuart Cliff is reported to be back in training with the club. after an injury-plagued season last year.
Kendal Town.....1 Burscough ..........3 GOALS have been plentiful in meetings between these sides this season, but though chances were about even, promotion-seeking Burscough were more adept at putting the ball in the net in Saturday's clash.
Lee Ashcroft gave Nathan Woods, his new loan signing from Rochdale, a place in the starting line-up alongside the returning Iain Swan at centre-back, and the team made a bright start.
In a positive opening 20 minutes, Kendal looked the more assured team.
And they had a glorious chance to go ahead in the 19th minute when a Burscough defender stumbled as he went for a headed clearance, allowing the ball to fall at striker Peter Wright's feet.
The eager Wright cut in from the left to race goalwards and although his firm low cross-shot eluded keeper Tony McMillan, it flew agonisingly past the post.
Kendal kept the pressure on to produce another quick chance as midfielder John Fowler squared a ball into the danger area, but Dave Foster could not connect with it cleanly and neither John Osborne or Wright could get a touch as it squirmed past a post.
The lead that Kendal wanted came in the 26th minute when Burscough keeper Tony McMillan impetuously rushed off his line and brought down Wright after a cross dropped to the striker on the edge of the box.
Wright sent the keeper the wrong way with the penalty kick, which flew low into the left-hand corner.
Stung by the setback, Burscough went on the attack but Town's defence managed to keep them at bay until the 40th minute when they snatched two goals in a minute.
From a corner-kick on the left, central defender Farrell Kilbane came with a run from deep for a free header that looped over keeper Mark Thornley's fingertips.
Unfortunately Town gave up the ball straight from the restart and wide midfielder Alan Moogan outpaced his marker on the right to roll his shot under the oncoming Thornley to make it 2-1.
Deputising for Rick Whiteside in goal, Thornley made several fine reaction saves and was alert to the danger with good stops either side of half time to give Kendal some hope of getting back into the argument.
But the final pass lacked precision and Burscough were content to play possession football after a third, somewhat bizarre goal, gave them a two-goal cushion in the 61st minute.
Kilbane got his head on to the end of Matty McGinn's free kick, but only took the pace of the ball. With the defence having pushed up, the ball creeped in slow-motion inside the far post.
Burscough suffered a setback when reduced to 10 men for the last 14 minutes when Moogan was dismissed for kicking out at Ian Kilford in an off-the-ball incident.
However, Kendal could not exploit the situation and struggled to create a clear-cut scoring opportunity in the final stages, despite the arrival of substitute Gareth Arnison on the scene.
HOW THEY RATED: Thornley 8, Sparrow 6, Byrne 6, Swan 6, Woods 7, Fowler 6, Osborne 7 (Whittal-Williams 71min, 7), Kilford 6, Foster 6 (Arnison 71min, 6), Wright 6, Smith 6 (Redhead 45min, 6).
LStar man - Mark Thornley - good reaction saves stopped further punishment.
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