Midfielder Barrie Matthews reckons the Christmas period is going to make-or-break Hampton & Richmond Borough’s season after enduring his worst month at the club.

Boss Alan Devonshire’s men started December where they left off in November, as sendings-off for skipper Dean Wells and centre-back partner John Scarborough compounded the misery of a 2-1 defeat at Dorchester Town on Saturday.

Wells, issued a straight red card for dangerous play, will miss the whole of the festive period after picking up a four-match suspension starting on December 19.

While Scarborough, who got an early bath for a professional foul, will miss one match along with fellow defender Marcello Fernandes.

It means Hampton’s threadbare first team squad will be most stretched during the busy Christmas period when Matthews believes they will need it most.

“This is my fifth season and the last month has been the worst I can remember since I’ve been here,” he said.

“I think Christmas is going to make or break our season. If we can get two wins out of three games that will push us up to mid-table which will be a big boost for everyone.

“At the moment we are losing the sort of games we would have won last year. If we can get one or two quick results that could hopefully turn things around for us and help us crack on.”

Scarborough and Wells’ early departures led directly to Dorchester goals after the captain had given his side an early lead and Matthews reckons it is a sign the luck is still not with the Beavers.

“They scored direct from the free-kick after Scarbs’ foul and did almost the same when Deano was sent off,” he added.

“You could argue against both of them - the second one was harsh - but we are not getting the rub of the green at the moment.

“People will look at the result and say we got beaten again, but if it hadn’t been for the sendings off we would have won that game. They didn’t really look like scoring otherwise.”

Hampton take a break from league action when they entertain Lewes in the FA Trophy at the weekend, looking to avenge a 1-0 league defeat to the same team last month.

Leaving Matthews hoping a win will transform the side’s league form to somewhere near the level of the last three seasons - with the help of the fans.

He said: “I’ve been in three play-off finals and won a league, in four seasons here. In that time, we’ve always come up with the goods.

“The fans have been on our back a bit. They pay their money so are entitled to an opinion, but now is the time we really need them.

“We absolutely battered Lewes the last time we played them, but couldn’t get the goal and that has been the story of our season. A win would change that.”

Hampton’s next three games: Dec 12 Lewes (FAT, h), 19 Welling United (h), 26 Staines Town (h).