TONGE skipper Craig Naylor admits it is hard to keep his side upbeat during their winless run this season.

The Castle Hill side are rooted to the bottom with just three points from an abandoned game against champions Farnworth Social Circle in May to their name.

They have lost the other 12 matches in the league and are 27 points behind second-bottom Heaton.

But Naylor is trying to stay positive and hopes that a surprise first win will come at third-placed Egerton tomorrow – particularly with the next three games following that trip against Farnworth, Farnworth Social Circle and Greenmount who are the other teams in the top four alongside this weekend's hosts.

He told The Bolton News: "We are trying to be positive but naturally the lads are down.

"I think the problem for us has been the fact we lost key players in the close season and didn't really replace them.

"The problem we always have is attracting players.

"But those who do come get a chance to play.

"We hope this weekend will be that game when we break the duck and turn a corner.

"Egerton have some good players, though, like Danny Partington.

"But we will go into it with an open mind."

The root cause of Tonge's troubles this year is blatantly apparent when you look at the scorecards from their league outings.

Only five times in 12 matches has their batting order totalled three figures with two scores of less than 50 – bowled out for 39 by Heaton and 47 a fortnight ago by Bradshaw.

The bowling displays have been better with professional Mansoor Ahmed taking 28 wickets to date and close-season arrival Dave Bath also chipping in.

But the miserly batting totals have given the bowling attack little room to manoeuvre.

Naylor added: "Mansoor and Dave have done well for us but we are missing good batsmen.

"When you are bowled out for 47 like against Bradshaw then you have little chance of winning games."

Fixtures: Astley Bridge v Bradshaw, Eagley v Walkden, Egerton v Tonge, Farnworth v Little Lever, Farnworth SC v Kearsley, Greenmount v Horwich, Westhoughton v Heaton.