Daisy Hill have been preparing this week for a crucial double header of games in the North West Counties League First Division North, with a trip to Steeton tomorrow (3pm) being followed by a home game against Ashton Athletic on Monday evening at the Plumb Factory Stadium (7.45pm).

Although Daisy now find themselves uncomfortably close to the relegation places, any fears of finishing in the bottom three would be largely banished with wins in both games, against opponents who both sit just one point above Daisy in the table.

Last weekend at runaway league leaders FC St Helens, Daisy were unlucky to be on the wrong end of a 1-0 defeat, and manager Lee Hill is issuing a rallying call for his side to repeat that performance.

“After a decent start to the season, in recent months we have dropped down the table and have now put ourselves under a bit of pressure, as teams around us have been picking up points,” said Hill.

“Instead of looking at the teams above us, we are now starting to have to keep an eye on the teams around and below us.

“Last Friday at FC St Helens we put in a good performance, and while you don’t like to be positive about a game we lost, at the same time it showed once again we can compete with the teams at the top of the league.

“Over the season we have played well against the teams that were and are near the top of the table, and my message this week has been that we need to turn in that level of performance for all of the last six games.

“Both games against Steeton and Ashton Athletic will be tough, as they will both be looking at our recent record and thinking they will be able to pick up points from us.

“It could be the games might be a bit scrappy and a bit of a battle, and the lads know they need to show that bit of quality that we know they have, and that they have shown against the teams at the top of the league.

“The good news is that we have a full-strength squad, and everyone is available.

“We have been a bit disjointed at times over the last couple of months, but now we have the chance to get a bit of consistency in selection over the last six games.”