Selby Town have six games to preserve their Northern Counties East League premier division status.

The seemingly forlorn battle against relegation to division one is the sole focus of the Robins’ season in the wake of their midweek League Cup exit.

As a follow up to Tuesday’s 4-0 third round defeat at Nostell Miners Welfare, manager Graham Hodder’s men host the same opposition at Flaxley Road tomorrow in desperate need of three points.

The basement side trail second-bottom Maltby Main by five points having played a game more, while they are nine points and one further place adrift of Lincoln Moorlands.

Hodder said: “I am an optimist. Until somebody says it is mathematically impossible, I will keep battling.

“Nostell got beaten by Maltby Main – the team immediately above us – last weekend. That didn’t help us.

“We need to catch Maltby, finish second from bottom and then hope only one team goes down for whatever reason.”

Despite their toils, Hodder sees hope for the future.

“Selby has been a club in freefall all season,” he said.

“The first manager came in, then a second and then a third. I have got the third shout at getting it right.

“We have got a very young side, but this is invaluable experience for them.

“If we can finish the season well, have a good pre-season and get some more quality coming in, we can make an impression next season.

“You need a clean slate. You can only breed confidence by getting a few clean sheets and a few results. I am sure it will turn around.”

Struggling Harrogate Town travel to Blue Square Bet North basement side Eastwood tomorrow needing three points to keep them out of the relegation scrap.

Relegation-threatened Harrogate Railway head to Bamber looking for their first win in nine Evo-Stik League division one north fixtures.