Mark Benterman will be stressing to his Halstead Town players that they cannot get beaten when Ely City come to Rosemary Lane today.

It is set to be a big occasion off the pitch, with a crowd of more than 500 expected for Halstead’s Club Day, but it is on the pitch matters that are at the forefront of Benterman’s mind.

The game against Ely will see the fourth-placed Humbugs entertain the side sitting one spot above them and with both locked together on 25 points, the Town boss knows how important a three-point haul can be.

He will be telling his players that it is a game they just can’t lose and expects them to head into it with the correct mentality.

“It’s a big day, but I don’t think that will add any pressure on to the boys,” said Benterman.

“The only pressure is what they want to put on themselves.

“We go into it with the attitude that we can’t lose the game and if we go in with the right mentality, which we did against Diss, King’s Lynn and March, then we’ll be fine.

“You can’t lose to the teams around you so we will go out there, battle and work hard.

“If they are the better side on the day, then you hold your hands up, but our boys will go out there and give it their all because if we win that, we’ll go three points clear and with a game in hand of fourth place.

“There are a lot of incentives in the game."