JAKE PHILLIPS insists that Airbus remain confident of avoiding an instant return to the Cymru North.

It's been a tough return to the top-flight for the young Wingmakers, who have been blighted by injury, illness and suspension over the opening 20 games of the campaign.

Airbus find themselves propping up the table with 11 points, but with 36 still to play between now and the end of the season, and Steve O'Shaughnessy's men just one shy of third from bottom Penybont, there is no need to panic.

Phillips, signed by Airbus after leaving Connah's Quay Nomads in the summer, knows he and his team-mates need to roll their sleeves up in the quest for crucial points - starting at fellow strugglers Carmarthen tomorrow.

"We are in a difficult position right now and we are crying out for points," said the versatile Phillips. "We understand in the dressing room that we are in a relegation battle and it's going to be a long hard season from now until the end and we are desperate for points.

"We've got a good squad on paper and we go into games usually with a strong starting XI. But we've had suspensions after illness after playing outfield players in goal and none of those things are going to help, especially to a side that is struggling.

"We are going into every game hoping for that little bit of luck now because we haven't seemed to have any throughout the season.

"Hopefully if that luck does change then we can go on a run of four, five, six or seven games unbeaten - I'm not saying winning games, but we can certainly compete.

"As you've seen with Druids over five, six, seven games they've won games or taken points off teams around them and they are pushing for that top-half.

"We've got 12 games to go and the first one is against Carmarthen, who are going to be in the bottom six with ourselves and Newtown are on the border.

"They are games we are looking to hopefully take points from. We've got to go away to two difficult places, but after that we will be trying out best over the final 10 games to get some results."

Scoring the opening goal of the game is crucial at any level, but especially important to Airbus, who have picked up 10 of their 11 points when breaking the deadlock.

"We are in games for large periods, which is good," said Phillips. "If we can get the first goal in games we give ourselves a better chance of taking something.

"When that one goal does go in against us it's almost like we go all guns blazing to try and salvage something out of the game."