West: Leaders are the 'benchmark' (From Evesham Journal)

West: Leaders are the 'benchmark'

11:20am Friday 10th April 2009

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IN-FORM Evesham United face a tough Easter double-header this weekend starting at league leaders Farnborough on Saturday in a match manager Paul West insists his players are relishing.

West has identified both the Farnborough clash and then at home to Merthyr Tydfil on Monday (both ko 3pm) as the “benchmark’ for his side after Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Brackley.

This scoreline took them up to eighth in British Gas Business Premier Division, their highest ever placing, although they slipped to 10th after Tuesday night’s games.

Danny Lennon’s first-half strike saw the Robins take the lead but a rare defensive mistake saw the points shared at St George’s Lane.

Bue West does concede his side have drawn too many games this season to have mounted a realistic play-off charge as they gear up for a busy Easter programme.

After a rare mid-week break from action the Robins boast a clean bill of health ahead of Saturday’s clash as they look to end their season on a high.

West said: “Farnborough will be a tough game as will Merthyr on Monday. They are two teams with a pedigree and they are the benchmark for us.

“Saturday’s match is a good opportunity for us to ruffle a few feathers at the top of the league.

“These are the kind of games we look forward to, there could be a decent crowd of 800 there. They are a side that has done extremely well. It is the sort of challenge that we relish.

“We want the feel-good factor around the side. The play-offs look unlikely but we’ve got to rely on the teams above us falling away now.

“The teams above us will probably be getting a little bit edgy now. If they start losing and we win, but it’s a long shot.

“We’ve lost key players at key times and we’ve also drawn too many games this season.

“We won’t be underdogs next year in this division as we have been this season, we’ve got to be prepared for that.

“It’s important that we finish the season well.”

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