TIVIDALE's team spirit could prove to be their secret weapon against relegation this season, says club general manager Leon Murray.

Dale have dropped to the bottom of the Midland Football League's Premier Division after the festive period and are facing a big fight for survival in 2017.

However, Murray thinks the togetherness among Tivi's young squad could prove the difference in the second half of the campaign.

He said: "The team spirit we have here at the moment is up there with the best I have seen. The togetherness is there every week.

"Each training session gets more than 20 players and there is never a problem.

"We have that spirit and have the ability to go with it as well. We just need to find the consistency to put a run of wins together."

Tividale lost 4-1 at Heanor Town last Saturday despite taking the lead in the contest.

Top scorer Dan Smith bagged his eighth goal of the season in the 39th minute before a disappointing second half saw Dale defeated.

Nathan Benger and Alexander Brown struck in the 55th and 64th minutes before substitute Keenan Layton netted a brace in the final 15 minutes to wrap up the points.

The result saw Tivi drop to bottom place after their proposed clash with league leaders Alvechurch fell victim to a waterlogged pitch on Monday.

"We took a very young side on a 130 mile round trip," explained Murray after the Heanor loss.

"We had to make six changes due to suspensions and injuries, so it was always going to be tough."

Murray was unhappy that Heanor's equaliser was deemed to have crossed the line, adding: "You don't get any luck when you're down at the bottom and that proved the case with the decision for their equaliser. It didn't cross the line and I even had Heanor fans apologising about it at the end of the game.

"But on chances created they probably deserved the win."

One bright spark from the loss was Dan Smith again finding the back of the net.

The striker was brought in from Sunday League football and has taken his chance to shine for Dale.

Murray said: "I've been very impressed with how he has done. He is a young lad but looks to be improving all the time."

Tivi will travel to 18th-placed AFC Wulfrunians this Saturday as they look to get the new year off to a winning start.