EVESHAM United manager Paul Collicutt has challenged his players to win their remaining 17 games of the Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South and West campaign.

The Robins, who host Didcot Town today (3pm), finished second last season after an “unbelievable” run which saw them lose just once since mid-November.

And Collicutt believes his side, who are five points adrift of the play-off places, will need to produce another long unbeaten streak to maintain their promotion challenge.

“This time last year we went on a run from November until the end of the season where we only had one defeat,” he said.

“It was an unbelievable run as we went from 14th or 15th in the table to ending up second.

“This season we have already lost six games whereas last season we lost five out of 42 fixtures, so we have got to make sure we win as many games as we can.”

Evesham followed up their emphatic 5-0 thrashing of Bridgwater Town with a 1-0 win at Wimborne Town last Saturday and Collicutt added: “We need to continue the run we are on at the moment.

“We have done exceptionally well against teams who are in the top four or five but we have dropped points against teams that have been in a lower position than us, so we have made life difficult for ourselves.

“We have got 17 games left and have to win every game between now and the end of the season to give ourselves a chance.”

Collicutt said it was a “sensible decision” to call off their match against Swindon Supermarine on Tuesday night due to a frozen pitch.

He said it meant midfielder Ashley Williams and defender Jared Wilson will be available today.

Evesham are expected to be without defender Liam Harding due to a quad injury and midfielder Clayton Green is suspended.

But skipper and centre-half Matt Sysum will return from his ban to face tenth-placed Didcot.

“They did very well in the FA Cup this season and have had good results,” Collicutt added.