VICTORY over the side with the worst current record in Division One Midlands of the Southern League will guarantee Evesham United the league title, writes Mervyn Collins.

However, after last weekend's extraordinary happenings at St George's Lane, nothing will be taken for granted when Woodford United travel to Worcester.

The Northamptonshire side held Leamington for 75 minutes last weekend before losing 3-1 - a tenth defeat in 11 matches during which time they had conceded 40 goals!

Two more were conceded on Monday night when they slumped to a 2-0 home defeat to fellow strugglers Rothwell Town.

Leamington, meanwhile, play host to Aylesbury United on an afternoon when finger nails will be become even shorter and championship celebrations could be delayed for another seven days.

Should the unthinkable happen and results go against Paul West's men, then Evesham will still have a second bite of the title cherry at Rushall seven days later.

And, should the Robins again fail to make the finishing line in top spot, they will have a third chance to secure promotion in the end of season play-offs!

Goalkeeper Nathan Vaughan, though, will miss the last league match and any play-off games after his post match stupidity last weekend.

"What went on before the final whistle i can accept but Nathan's behaviour I can't," West admitted after the game.

"I told him last summer that if he played 99 per cent of the games then i said that we would be in with a great chance of promotion. He's been fantastic but he let everyone down last Saturday."

West will put his players through a training session tonight and may well contemplate a reshuffle for weekend.

"I can understand people's disappointment because of the nature of the Barton game," West honestly admitted. "As a manager I have to be very careful not to point the finger - it's a bit late in the day for that.

"Overall it was the point we needed and maybe makes it easier to approach the Woodford game knowing that we have to win. It's the ultimate game and one that we have all been waiting for."

Chairman Jim Cockerton has every confidence in the United players as they bid to earn the club its highest ever honour.

"I would like to wish the manager and his players all the best for Saturday," he declared.

"They have done brilliantly all season and no one was more frustrated than me last weekend but that's gone now. As it happened we wouldn't have clinched the title even if we had won the game but we will on Saturday."

In an effort to get a few more people through the turnstiles, there will be free admission for all youngsters under-16, accompanied by an adult.

There will be a minute's silence ahead of Saturday's game in memory of lifelong supporter and former committee man Roy Davies who passed away earlier this month.

5:00pm Wednesday 16th April 2008

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