DAVE Busst is praying for a miracle as Evesham United bid for automatic promotion on the final day of the season.

The Robins trail second-placed Yate Town by two points in Southern League Division One West ahead of tomorrow's showdown with Cinderford Town.

For United to gain a top-two spot, they need to beat the Gloucestershire outfit at Common Road (3pm) and hope Rothwell triumph over Yate.

A likelier outcome would see Yate squeeze a point at Cecil Street to send Busst's men hurtling towards the play-offs.

However, victory over Cinderford would at least give Evesham home advantage, firstly against Ashford or Brackley in Monday's semi-final (3pm) and in the final providing they win.

After ending a poor run of form to beat Brackley 1-0 last Saturday, Busst is desperate to pull off a final-day victory.

Busst said: "It was good to bounce back. But we've resigned ourselves to the play-offs barring a miracle, so we have to make sure we are in the right frame of mind when we enter the play-offs.

"It's important we at least finish third. The last thing we want is a local derby with Bromsgrove Rovers. The play-offs will be hard enough as it is without 1,000 Bromsgrove fans coming here.

"I'm still a little optimistic that Yate might lose because the pressure is on them now. It's an awkward pitch at Rothwell and they have got two good forwards. We had a close game down there and we'd like to think Rothwell will put in the same effort.

"We are not asking them to do us a favour, as such, but perhaps just play for their own pride in getting a result.

"But we've got to concentrate on Cinderford. We did everything but score when we played them a few weeks ago. We created a lot of chances, scored an own goal and missed a penalty. Nothing went right for us."

Midfielder Gavin O'Toole (Achilles) is a major doubt after coming off at Brackley. Steve Duncan may step in.