AFTER seeing his side concede two quality goals last Saturday, Evesham United manager Paul West has set his players the task of producing two of their own, writes Mervyn Collins.

Those "goals" should be enough to stave off relegation from the Southern League Premier Division but West is asking a lot of a team that has won just five matches from 37 this campaign.

"If we can win five of our remaining ten matches then I am confident that we can survive," West maintained. "Our first goal, though, is to win two on the bounce for the first time this season and that I'm sure will give us the confidence needed to embark on a run that might save us from the drop."

The Robins journey into Wales on Saturday to face another troubled club in the shape of Merthyr Tydfil who won 2-1 at Common Road on the final day of 2005.

It could be that only Richie Rob-inson, Steve Hands, Adam Blake and Grant Pinkney remain from the 11 starters on that afternoon when West hands in his teamsheet at Penydarren Park.

There are doubts over the fitness of goalkeeper Dave Adey, Rob Taylor, Anthony Watson and Steve Duncan, who is available again after a four-match ban but has encountered Achilles problems.

West has been in touch with Redditch, Hinckley, Cheltenham Town and Port Vale as he attempts to bolster his squad.

"I am trying to draft in some new faces but I will have no hesitation in sending out the same 11 that did so well last Saturday," the Common Road chief admitted.

"The lads didn't let me down at all. We were beaten by two quality strikes and take those goals out and there wasn't a lot between the teams."

United haven't won for eight matches and have collected a mere 11 points out of a possible 45 since defeating Northwood.

Rock bottom on that November aft-ernoon, Northwood, who play host to Gloucester on Saturday, have since collected 23 points from 16 matches having taken just nine from their opening 16 league outings.

Cheshunt, meanwhile, have won their last six matches to leave six teams in the scrap to avoid the drop.

The Robins currently lie third bottom, three points adrift of Gloucester, who drew 2-2 at Hitchin last Saturday and six behind Cirencester who won 2-1 at Rugby.

Chesham, with Luther Blissett now in charge, were thumped at home 5-2 by Yate, while Aylesbury moved within a point of Evesham after a 1-1 draw at Halesowen.

l RICHARD Ball has pledged his immediate future to Evesham after rejecting an offer to join Brackley Town.

"The seven days were up this week and Bally spoke to them by phone but he has decided to stay at Evesham," West revealed. "That's a fantastic attitude and shows his commitment to the cause."