Brakes have six games to save their Conference North status

Three successive defeats have plunged Brakes back into the relegation mire, with just a point separating them from the bottom three.

After a tricky run of fixtures, tomorrow’s home clash with Stalybridge is followed by meetings with Gloucester City and Lowestoft and Holleran is in no doubt their season will be defined by results in those three matches.

“As I said to players, it is now a six-game season and we need a minimum of two wins (to stay up) - six to seven points should do it.

“It doesn’t take a genius to work out the next three games are massive, playing against the teams in our own little league.

“If we can turn over Stalybridge they will be seven points behind with five to go and that will be a big ask to make up.”

Two goals in the space of three first-half minutes changed the complexion of Tuesday night’s clash with Chorley, with the play-off chasers turning around a one-goal deficit to go in at the break ahead.

It followed a similar quickfire salvo from Solihull Moors in Saturday’s derby defeat and Holleran says his side can ill-afford further concentration lapses as the season enters a critical phase.

“The kid hits a rocket from 30 yards into the top corner and then we don’t deal with a ste-piece and after being in control we’re behind.

“And they’re the last side you want to be behind to.

“They’re a direct, physical side and in the second half they played to their strengths and we struggled to get the ball to our front three.

“There was plenty of effort and endeavour but we can’t afford to keep letting good situations slip.”

Stalybridge journey to the New Windmill tomorrow on the back of a win over Gloucester and re-energised by the appointment of Liam Watson as manager.

However, Holleran says Leamington’s survival hopes remain in their own hands.

“We’ve got to keep working hard and believing in ourselves.

“We need to pull together to keep this club in the division.”