MANAGER Paul Collicutt believes Saturday’s match against in-form Shortwood United (3pm) is the most important of Evesham United’s season to date.

The Robins enjoyed a promising start to the campaign but have faltered in recent weeks and are currently on a nine-game winless streak in all competitions.

Four of those fixtures have been in Evo-Stik Southern Football League Division One South and West, leaving United languishing in 14th place.

But the match against Shortwood, who are nine games unbeaten in the league, is the first of three home games for Evesham.

Lowly Bashley, beaten 11-0 by North Leigh last weekend, visit next Tuesday (7.45pm) followed by Sholing the next weekend.

Collicutt said: “I would say Saturday is the most important game of the season. It’s up to us whether we can kick-start the campaign.

“We have had three away games on the bounce and they have been hard.

“We went to Taunton last weekend and came back with a deserved point but we could have had more and that’s been the story of the season so far.

“Saturday is a very important game. We are playing a team who have only lost twice in the league this season and they will make it very difficult for us.

“We have only lost four league games this season but have drawn seven. If we had turned them into positive results, we would be further up the table.”

Evesham have been unable to field a settled side and are again without key personnel for the Shortwood clash. Top of the list is keeper Kevin Sawyer, who serves a one-match ban after being sent off against Tiverton.

Collicutt has reserve team keeper Josh Goddard available, but may look to draft in cover for the Spiers and Hartwell Jubilee Stadium match.

Captain Matt Sysum, who scored a last-minute penalty to earn the 1-1 draw at Taunton, starts a two-game suspension.

While Ashley Edenborough returns from suspension, strike partner Lance Smith remains sidelined with a broken finger.

Fellow forward Carl Brown is back from work commitments.

Meanwhile, Littleton and Pershore Town hope to return to action after a wet weekend.

Second-from-bottom Pershore host Nuneaton Griff in Midland League Division One on Saturday and fourth-placed Littleton visit Hinckley (both 3pm).