Sam Denly insists Herne Bay’s season isn’t about to peter out into mid-table obscurity.

The Bay boss claims Saturday’s game at South Park is “massive” in their quest to rekindle play-off hopes.

Bay have lost five straight in Ryman League, Division 1 South and are winless since November, with Denly adding: “We’re glad December is out of the way.

“We always said it was going to be a tough month. We’re on a bad run but hopefully it’s onwards and upwards from here.”

January began with a 3-1 defeat at home to Faversham Town on New Year’s Day and after Saturday’s postponement at Walton & Hersham, Bay slipped to 13th, although only out of the top-10 on goal difference and still only eight points outside the play-offs.

Denly said: “We’re in poor form but hopefully we can stop the rot and start putting a run of results together.

“We’re inconsistent, that’s why we’re sat where we are in the table and mid-table might be where we end up.”

“But we’re not out of it by any means, a couple of wins can change all that and we have a run of winnable games coming up.”

He added: “I’ve always been consistent in talking about what we’re trying to do here but the table is tight and if we can stop the rot and start winning games, who knows what might happen.”

Denly said he was aiming to replicate the improved performance against Faversham when the team visit eighth-placed South Park on Saturday (3pm) in the first of a run of six away games in seven.

Denly said: “The result does not tell the full story. We played well and can take a lot of positives out of the game.

“If we can take those into the South Park game, then I have no doubt we can get a win there.

“It’s a massive game. They are a decent side on their day but we were ahead of them not long ago.

“If we can get a win, then we stay right in there.”

Sam Hasler, Stuart King and Jordan Casey are fit to return on Saturday, while Danny Williams is back from suspension, although Danny Walder and Dan Parkinson are both banned.

Of Bay’s last 17 games, 11 are on the road but Denly said: “We have had the home games, we didn’t make as much of them as we might.”