'Mission imperative' is how Chelmsford City manager Gary Bellamy describes his side's home game against promotion rivals Hastings Town.

In the run-up to Saturday's Dr Martens League Eastern Division tie at New Lodge Bellamy said: "We simply have to win and collect three points to stay in the promotion race,"

"We have had a good unbeaten run and the defeat at Erith last week will hopefully provide just the kick start we want for the final run-in.

"We are perfectly capable of doing so as long as we keep to our passing game and play the way we have been doing so successfully this season," he added. ''The players know that it is vitally important we don't now slip up."

The manager still has several injury worries with full-back Brett Girling the main concern and also midfielder Shane Bailey, who was expected to return against Erith & Belvedere last weekend, but has yet to gain full recovery.

An added problem with the former Braintree Town player is that he has been away in New York on business this week and is not scheduled to return home until early tomorrow morning.

"This means that he will probably have to start on the substitutes bench and I am still hoping to bring in a couple of more experienced players to help us out," Bellamy said.

Definitely returning after his one-match ban is Kevin Newby but Kevin Dobinson is still suspended for another game following his sending off at Folkestone Invicta.

Bellamy added: "We are a little short in the midfield department but hopefully we can have something sorted out before the game."

"We have to beat the likes of Hastings Town, Newport and Fisher Athletic, all games quickly looming up, to stand a chance of going up but we are confident that we can do it," he said.

City also have a difficult match away to Wisbech Town the following week but by then, Bellamy hopes to have a fully fit squad available.

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