MIDFIELDER Dean Bennett has issued rallying cry ahead of New Year's Day's clash at embattled Chester City.

Bennett, one of the senior players at the club, has been assisting caretaker manager John Finnigan since Neil Howarth and Mark Yates left the club for Cheltenham Town last week.

The 32-year-old believes that Harriers are still very much in the fight for a promotion play-off spot in the Blue Square Premier.

Monday's 2-1 defeat at Rushden and Diamonds ensured they have only won one league game in the last five.

However, after Chester Harriers have four home games in the next five, which means whoever takes the manager's job permanentlly starts with matches against the likes of Grays, Lewes (FA Trophy), Ebbsfleet, Barrow and Cambridge.

"I'm just helping Finners, I know the club inside out and I was helping out with the coaching when Mark Yates was at the club," commented Bennett.

"We're in a good position, if we beat Chester on New Year's Day we're back in the running.

"It's not gloom and doom, we're just off the play-offs we've got three home games in January which are all winnable.

"We've not given up, it's about the players not managers and as long as we keep believing we should be alright.

"I'm disappointed for John [Finnigan], I feel we let him down the way we started against Rushden.

"He did everything right, he prepared meticulously, we knew what was going to happen, so we've let him and ourselves down.

"Mark Yates brought be back here and I loved my time with him but you've got to move on, you can't dwell on it."

Don't miss any of the action at Chester City on New Year's Day (3pm kick-off) - just log onto our live minute-by-minute match coverage to keep up with how Harriers are faring. You can also comment on the action as it unfolds.

You can also read a match report almost straight after the final whistle.