NEVER-SAY-DIE Bashley boss Barry Blankley believes his team have the character to play a key role in the Eastern Division promotion shakedown.

After dropping 14 of the last 15 points, the Foresters' chances of bringing Premier Division football to the Recreation Ground next season look wafer-thin.

But the determination Bash showed in battling back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Banbury on Saturday has convinced Blankley that his players are up for the fight.

"Have we resigned ourselves to being out of it? Far from it," he said. "A lot of teams would have thrown the hat in after conceding twice in the first 15 minutes at Banbury, but fair play to our lads for digging deep and showing the character to fight back.

"It was disappointing not to come away with the three points, but I can't fault the lads for the way they played.

"Everyone, including the supporters, knows how well we did. Everything was spot on apart from the result."

King's Lynn's 4-0 win at rock-bottom St Leonard's on Monday has dropped Bash to sixth, but Blankley feels the picture could change dramatically if Bash make the most of their home games against Ashford tonight (7.45) and Sittingbourne on Saturday.

After that come a tricky sequence of Easter 'six-pointers' against leaders Eastbourne Borough (home, April 19), Salisbury (away, April 21) and Stamford (home, April 26) before the season concludes at Rothwell on May 3.

"If we don't get promotion, we're going to have a big say in who does," said Blankley. "We know we've got one of the hardest run-ins, so getting six points out of six against Ashford and Sittingbourne is an absolute must."

Graeme Gee sits out the second of a two-match suspension tonight, while Dave Wakefield is battling a slight groin strain. Navy defender Dave Wilson is still away at sea but should be available to face Sittingbourne.

Teenage defender Dan Turner may well have played his way into Havant & Waterlooville's squad for Saturday's FA Trophy semi-final, second leg at home to Tamworth.

The Purbrook lad bagged his first senior goal last night as the Hawks clawed back from behind for a 1-1 Dr Martens Premier Division draw with Dover at Westleigh Park.

H&W spurned four decent chances before being caught out from a set-piece.

But they came out for the second half with all guns blazing - Woolston-based striker James Taylor hitting the crossbar before Turner volleyed in Alec Masson's knockdown from a corner.

"We shuffled the pack tonight with no Aaron Kerr, Christian Hanson, Timmy Hambley, Shaun Gale or Dave Leworthy, but we played some very good football," said Hawks' co-manager Mick Jenkins.

"Dan Turner and Alec Masson were towers of strength at the back. Young Dan's got a big future ahead of him and he might well be in the squad for Saturday."

Hawks wish to stress that the 2pm kick-off against Tamworth is NOT an all-ticket match. The south coast club have a 1-0 deficit to overturn against the DML Premier Division leaders.