FAWLEY AFC accept that their Sydenhams Premier Division days might be numbered – but they won’t go down without a fight.

That much was clear at Amesbury Town on Saturday where the Oilers twice had their lead snuffed out before hitting back at the double for a gutsy 4-2 Sydenhams Premier win.

When Amesbury levelled for a second time on 83 minutes, nullifying goals from Callum Tanner and Kieran Roche, it looked as if the relegation trap door was beckoning for Fawley.

But, within a minute, Aaron Lucas had restored their lead and Lewis Ross made sure of victory in stoppage time.

With two games to play – at fellow strugglers Whitchurch on Saturday and home to Brockenhurst on April 22 – Fawley are four points behind fourth-to-bottom Cowes Sports, who are away to Alresford and home to Amesbury.

“We’re still in with a fighting chance of survival,” said Fawley chairman Kevin Mitchell.

“If not, we’ll take it on the chin and move on. Maybe we’ve outstayed our welcome in the Premier Division and it’s our turn to go down.”

And with a nod the club’s well-publicised ground issues that have successfully been overcome in recent weeks, he added: “We’ve had bigger issues to deal with than worrying about being relegated.”

Should Fawley beat Whitchurch this weekend, they would rise to third-to-bottom spot - exactly where they finished last season.

But with a new three-up, three-down system now in operation, that would no longer guarantee survival.

Stranger things have happened though and Mitchell said: “No ever really knows the numbers up and down. A lot depends on what happens in other leagues. Last season Alresford finished second-to-bottom and escaped relegation.

“We’re not banking on that, but more often than not you do get clubs reprieved, so we’ll wait and see. Our object is to win both remaining games and hope results go for us elsewhere.

“Callum Tanner, Elliot Earl and Sam Longman have all had operations this season, so that’s three experienced players we haven’t had. Callum’s back now, Elliot’s played for the reserves and Sam was on the bench at Horndean, so that’s a huge bonus.

“We’ve shown in two of our last three games (Amesbury, and the 4-3 win at Fareham) that if we get a reasonably strong side out, we can get results.”

Two other key players – Matt Hawkins and Dan Fry – are currently serving three-match suspensions and will miss the Whitchurch showdown.

*Fawley's third-placed Waterside neighbours Blackfield & Langley are out of reach of a top-two finish after slipping up 1-0 at home to Brockenhurst.

Mark Barker's early strike - his 31st of the campaign - proved decisive as Brock completed a season's double over Glenn Howes' men.