MATT Clarke has called on Redditch United supporters to remain positive after a 4-0 defeat at Banbury United left the club’s survival hopes in the balance.
The Reds suffered a first-half collapse at the Spencer Stadium as United conceded four goals in the space of 27 minutes.
And the defeat means Redditch sit above the Southern League Premier Central relegation zone on goal difference.
Redditch are just one goal better off than Barwell with one game left to play.
Clarke accepts the the frustrations of the Redditch supporters but hopes the club’s fanbase can remain positive ahead of a final day showdown for survival.
Clarke said: “I heard the fans chanting about small margins because I’ve said that a lot which has been the reality but this was far from it.
“It was probably our worst performance in the first 35 minutes. We collapsed and that’s something that we haven’t done all season.
“I completely understand the fans’ frustration because they’ve backed us and have been incredibly patient for a long time.
“It’s a lesson learned, the reality is it’s going down to wire, we hoped it wouldn’t do but it has.
“It’s really important that, irrespective of the frustrations towards the players or me, the supporters are really positive next week.
“Hopefully, we get the right result and that’s what we’ve got to do.”
Reds captain, Kyle Rowley added: “It was poor from 15 minutes in right up until the end of the game, there’s no words and no excuses from any of the players.
“We let ourselves, the club, the fans and the manager down, we’ve given away four terrible goals. To be four-nil down at half time is not good enough at all.
“We tried to be positive at half time, it could have easily turned into a six, seven or eight-nil. We knew the game was done, it was more important to keep the goal difference down.
“Goal difference is going to be important, we had to try and just stay together and be a team.”
Banbury broke the deadlock on 14 minutes when Connor Ferguson pounced on a fumble by Reds goalkeeper Dan Moore before forcing the ball home from close range.
And the home side doubled their lead on 26 minutes as Connor Stanley jinked his way into the box before firing a low effort past Moore.
The hosts all but sealed the points six minutes later when Ferguson headed a cross from the left into the left corner of the goal in-between two Redditch defenders.
And George Ball completed the scoring four minutes before half time after he robbed Rowley of possession before racing through and finding the net.
United finish the season with a home game against already-relegated Hitchin Town while relegation rivals Barwell host play-off hopefuls Spalding United.
The Reds only need to match Barwell’s result to make sure of their place in the division next season.
Redditch entertain Hitchin on Saturday, April 26 with kick-off at 3pm at the Valley Stadium.
