IT MIGHT only be the middle of November but Saturday's fixture against Northwood bears all the hallmarks of a "must win" match for Evesham United, writes Mervyn Collins.

However, David Busst describes Saturday as a "must not lose game"!

"We've got to ensure that teams in the struggle at the bottom don't get the chance to put one over us, so it's a game that we can't really afford to lose," the Common Road chief explained.

The Robins go into their 17th Premier Division start of the campaign having collected maximum points on just three occasions - just once at home and that was on September 3.

This weekend's visitors have fared even worse and boast just two wins and two draws from their 16 matches - having lost seven out of eight fixtures on their travels.

Their solitary success came with a 1-0 win at Banbury United before home matches that brought a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Bath City and last Saturday's goalless draw with Rugby Town.

Busst's side lies third bottom following Gloucester City's 4-0 thrashing at Kings Lynn and a win could catapult the Common Roaders several places up the ladder.

The Common Road chief is expected to name the same ten outfield players that performed well in defeat at Banbury but Chris Taylor is likely to be given a chance between the sticks ahead of Dave Adey's one-match ban that will see him miss the rearranged home game with Kings Lynn on Saturday, November 26.

Adey was expected to be sidelined for the trip to Grantham on the same day but that game has now been cancelled due to the Lincolnshire side's FA Trophy involvement.

"Giving Chris a game will allow him to settle in a little bit more in readiness for the next game," Busst declared.

Missing this weekend will be Lee Knight who is serving a one-match ban after accumulating five cautions but Busst is happy with the way his central defenders played at Banbury, when Knight was unavailable, last time out.

However, Busst has swooped to sign Studley defender Adam Blake and he will be in the squad for Saturday.

"Richie (Robinson) and Pando (Steven Hands) did very well," Busst admitted. "They were up against who I feel were the best two strikers that we have come up against so far."

Saturday's match is being sponsored by Tom Martin and Co Ltd, Bamber Bridge, Preston and the ball by Micky Brennan.

Premier Division

P W D L F A Pts

Salisbury City 14 10 2 2 26 7 32

Mangotsfield Utd 15 8 5 2 29 19 29

Bedford Tn 16 9 2 5 28 24 29

Chippenham Tn 13 9 1 3 26 16 28

Banbury Utd 16 8 4 4 30 22 28

King's Lynn 15 8 2 5 27 14 26

Bath City 14 7 3 4 19 10 24

Halesowen Tn 15 5 7 3 23 18 22

Grantham Tn 16 6 4 6 21 19 22

Merthyr Tydfil 11 6 3 2 23 14 21

Team Bath 15 6 3 6 16 18 21

Chesham Utd 16 6 2 8 19 27 20

Hitchin Tn 15 5 4 6 20 24 19

Yate Tn 15 6 1 8 20 33 19

Aylesbury Utd 13 4 4 5 13 14 16

Cheshunt 16 4 4 8 20 26 16

Rugby Tn 15 4 3 8 25 33 16

Cirencester Tn 14 5 1 8 11 21 16

Tiverton Tn 12 4 2 6 17 17 14

Evesham Utd 16 3 4 9 13 19 13

Gloucester City 16 2 5 9 21 31 11

Northwood 16 2 3 11 17 37 9