HITCHIN will be looking for maximum points from their next three games according to Liam George as the race for survival took another turn on Tuesday evening. Mark Barnes scored with just five minutes left on the clock to salvage a much-needed point for T

HITCHIN will be looking for maximum points from their next three games according to Liam George as the race for survival took another turn on Tuesday evening.

Mark Barnes scored with just five minutes left on the clock to salvage a much-needed point for Town against Bashley but a single point leaves the Canaries further from safety after Banbury won and increased the gap to four points.

Hitchin now have three home games in a row- including matches against strugglers Stourbridge and Banbury - to put the heat on their rivals and George insists safety can still be achieved.

Speaking after the match, the former Luton Town marksman said: "We'll be looking at getting maximum points from the next three home games and we still see it as being in our own hands.

"We have been playing better at home in the past few games and have got a few points so we hope that will continue and we will get the wins needed to get us to safety.

"We played well this evening in the first half with Bashley struggling because of their long journey, but when they put that behind them they came at us in the second and scored.

"We did enough to get a point here but we just missed out on three so we'll be looking to change that in out next game."

Hitchin started brightly with Mark E'Beyer going close with a free kick on 11 minutes and some good attacking play putting the visitors' goal under pressure.

The Canaries were missing striker Jeff Hammond from the starting line up - and with him, a cutting edge in the last third - but did enough to have deserved a lead at the break.

Instead, they went in 0-0 and just moments after the second half began Dave Allen scored for Bashley after Marcus Rose had stopped another shot on the line.

Hitchin left it late to get their equaliser and George was unlucky to find a winner with a string of superb chances but an outstanding volley went just wide, a glancing header hit the bar and a good shot was superbly saved by David Elm in the Bashley goal.

"I was disappointed I didn't put one away, but I'm pleased with how I played," said George.

"I'm getting back to full fitness now and when I'm 100 per cent I know I can do the business."

Canaries fans will hope that's the case this Saturday against Chippenham Town.