Things improved slightly .
The team hovered just above the relegation zone but a 5 -- 1 thrashing at the hands of Maidstone United at Loakes Park on 2 January 1988 was the final straw .
Things improved slightly and the team hovered just above the relegation zone but a 5 -- 1 thrashing at the hands of Maidstone United at Loakes Park on 2 January 1988 was the final straw .