Hampton boss Mark Harper has urged striker Dave Tarpey to find his scoring boots if his men are to avoid the nightmare scenario of final day Blue Square South relegation.

The Beavers front man has 24 goals to his name, but has not found the net since a three game suspension ended with him scoring in the Middlesex Senior Cup final triumph over Wealdstone earlier this month.

Since that triumph, Hampton have failed to secure a league point – and have scored just one goal – in their quest for survival.

Consecutive 2-0 defeats to Welling United and Basingstoke Town this week leave their destiny out of their hands even if they beat bottom club Thurrock on Saturday.

And Harper knows his sharp shooter needs to find his touch if they are to give themselves a chance.

“In all my years in the game I’ve never seen completely dominate 20, 30 or 40 minute stretches of games and not put the ball in the back of the net,” he said.

“All credit to Tarps (Tarpey), he has scored 24 goals this season and without him we would probably be languishing even lower and be right out of it already to him.

“His suspension hasn’t done him any favours because he hasn’t scored since the Middlesex Cup final.

“We’ve barely scored since then. I thought we’d kick on after that but we haven’t.

“We’ve not scored enough goals this season and we need that to change.”

Goals either side of half time from Delano Sam-Yorke – after Neil Jenkins was caught in possession – and Tim Sills – from a corner – accounted for Hampton on Tuesday.

Harper knows it is win or bust this weekend, but even then his side will need Staines Town to win at Havant & Waterlooville on Saturday to prevail.

“I don’t know Steve Cordery (Staines Town manager) well enough to send him a bottle of champagne, but I do know he will be putting out his strongest side,” he said.