MANAGER Paul Collicutt is confident Evesham United will continue their impressive league form at Barnstaple Town tomorrow (3pm) despite the departure of captain Matt Sysum.

After missing a game through illness, Sysum struggled to break back into Collicutt’s side, who have won six successive Southern League Division One South and West matches to climb to fourth position.

Collicutt said he could not “speak highly enough” of Sysum, who had been a key figure at Robins since rejoining them in 2014.

However, after Evesham’s 1-0 defeat at Frome Town in the FA Trophy on Wednesday, the 27-year-old centre-back decided to “call it a day”.

“Sys hasn’t been in the team for nine or 10 games and he was a bit frustrated as he could not break back into the team,” Collicutt said.

“The lads have been doing well in recent weeks and it’s always hard to change a team when you are winning.

“He wanted regular football and I could not guarantee that but we parted on good terms.”

Collicutt has appointed defender Linden Dovey, who had been standing in for Sysum, as skipper with midfielder Ashley Williams the new vice-captain.

“Linden takes everything in his stride,” said Collicutt, who has doubts over the fitness of centre-half Leroy Odiero ahead of their long trip to 16th-placed Barnstaple.

“We are unbeaten in seven games and Linden has been a big part of that.

“We have got a difficult game but we are looking forward to it, so hopefully we can come back with three points.”