SHAWBURY United boss Dave Richards has challenged his side to keep their drop battle going to the bitter end – and give themselves a chance of another memorable last-day survival.

Richards’ men stayed up on the final day of the Midland Premier season last year but three home defeats in the past week have left their hopes of repeating that feat looking bleak.

Losses to AFC Wulfrunians (1-3), basement side Rocester (1-2) and Boldmere (0-1) have left United nine points from safety after relegation rivals South Normanton Athletic hit a rich vein of form.

But all is not lost as South Normanton face three of the top five in their final four games, as well as a potentially decisive visit to Shawbury in the penultimate match next Thursday.

Before then Shawbury host Loughborough University (tonight) and Quorn (Monday), with a trip to second-placed Highgate in between, and Richards wants them to make a fight of it.

He said: “We’ve had a week to forget and with South Normanton taking ten points out of their last four games, it’s going to be difficult.

“We have to hope South Normanton drop three points before they come to us a week on Thursday and that we find a bit of form.

“If we can get a result against them, it could be all to play for going into the last week of the season where we might be a bit stronger with lads that are dual-signed to other clubs coming into the fray.

“We just want to be in touching distance and then if they slip up, we have a chance, but I’m under no illusions how hard it is.

“We’ve had to play at Ludlow this year and we’ve only took eight points from our home games. Last year we took 27 and that tells you the bigger picture.

“We had eight home games out of ten going into the run-in and we wanted to target 15 points from them. We have taken one point so far out of four games.

“To stay in this division, we have to win at least three of the four remaining home games and maybe draw the other.

“I’m hoping the lads learn from the last week and take it to the last day because it was a great feeling when we stayed up on goal difference on the final day last year.”