It's '˜crunch time' for the Steelmen

Gary Mills believes it's 'crunch time' in their battle for survival as they host Marine tomorrow

The Steelmen’s hopes have suffered a couple of setbacks this week after a 3-0 defeat at Barwell last weekend was followed by a 3-2 loss at fellow strugglers Marine on Tuesday night.

That was the first of a quickfire double-header against Marine, who make the trip to Steel Park tomorrow (Saturday).

And while the visitors will now be eyeing a win that will edge them closer to safety, Corby need to get back on track.

Just five games will remain once this weekend is over with the margin for error getting smaller as the season heads into its final month.

The Steelmen remain in the place just above the relegation zone but only goal difference separates them from Frickley Athletic who now have a game in hand.

And while Mills knows fans will be frantically looking at results elsewhere, he maintains his team must focus solely on themselves.

“It really is crunch time now,” the Corby boss said.

“We need to take care of our own results and we need to concentrate on ourselves and the job at hand.

“If we can keep more teams involved in the relegation scrap then great but we just have to focus on us and what we do.”

Corby should feel fairly confident ahead of this weekend, having won their last five matches in all competitions at Steel Park while Marine have picked up just 11 points from 19 games on the road this season.

And Mills hopes the club’s supporters will be out in force once again to roar his team on.

“We want to replicate the home form we have enjoyed recently,” he added.

“The fans play a huge part in that because they have turned up in their numbers, they have got behind the boys and created a great atmosphere for them to play in.

“Hopefully we can get another big crowd in and the fans will roar the players on in what is a huge game for us.”

The other games of importance in the relegation dogfight this weekend see Frickley head to Ilkeston FC, who are a massive 16 points from safety and set to definitely go down alongside bottom markers Skelmersdale United.

Sutton Coldfield Town sit two points below Corby and Frickley and they host Barwell tomorrow while Halesowen Town, who are three points above the drop-zone but with three games in hand on the Steelmen, make the trip to play-off chasing Spennymoor Town.