HARTLEY Wintney captain Scott Baldwin is adamant that everything is not lost in his side’s battle to avoid relegation from Southern League Division One.

The village side remain bottom of the table following a seven-wicket defeat at the hands of leaders Burridge last time out, while results elsewhere also went against them last weekend.

The bottom two are beginning to look like they may get cut adrift, but Baldwin remains positive.

“It does look like there is a bit of a gap forming but we only need to sneak a win and we are back in the hunt,” he said. “After this week we have a run of games against the sides just above us to end the season so all is certainly not lost.

“We just have to keep going because if we can get a couple of wins, you never know what might happen.”

Having played the league leaders last week, things do not get much easier for Hartley, who have lost their last four games, on Saturday.

Next up is a trip to Sarisbury Athletic, who are second in the table but level on points with Burridge.

They have won their last three games and beat Hartley by seven wickets when the sides met earlier in the season – but rain may have saved them on Saturday as hosts New Milton were 56-2 chasing 130 when the game had to be abandoned.

“It will be tough down at Sarisbury,” Baldwin said. “They are a professional unit and a good side but we won down there last year, when they were in a similar position.

“We have to turn up there expecting to win, otherwise we will lose the game.”

The village side will be without opening batsman Jonny Rowland, while bowler Chris Jolley could be a doubt after injuring his hand against Burridge.

Hartley lost that game with the bat, finding themselves 26-7 and 55-9. A fine last-wicket partnership of 84 between Dave Arnold (47 not out) and Phil Horwood (39) got them to 139 but Burridge got home with three wickets down.