SKIPPER Peter Holmes says that putting one over his old club Ebbsfleet United can reignite Hayes & Yeading's desperate season so far.

Saturday's FA Trophy first round tie at Stonebridge Road offers some brief respite for Hayes & Yeading from their fight to beat the drop in the Blue Square Bet Premier.

And 30-year-old ex-Luton Town midfielder Holmes (pictured), who experienced relegation during his one season with Ebbsfleet, believes FA Trophy success on Saturday can help him avoid an unwanted relegation double.

“A win at Ebbsfleet can kick-start our season,” said Holmes. “But it will not be easy just because they are a Conference South side, it is a tricky tie, and we will need a different mindset from what we had in losing six games on the run.

“All the manager can do is pick the team, but once we cross the white line, it is down to us.We have shown that we can beat anyone in our league this season, but we can also lose to anyone also – it is just about what team turns up for us.”

Holmes is relishing the chance of taking on his old club and manager Liam Daish, but he has warned his players that they must start winning regularly soon – or face the dreaded drop.

“It will be nice to go back there and see some old faces,” Holmes added. “They are doing well at the moment with a chance of promotion and Liam will have them well up for it.

“But these are the type of games we need to win. We have probably used the excuse of playing well and getting beat quite a lot, but the league does not lie.

We are one of the worst teams in the league at the moment and we need to take a hard look at ourselves. Everyone needs to up their performances.”

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