The Mitres will travel to Calne Town on Sunday in a bid to extend their fine run of form after the festive period.
In their previous fixture, they hosted a thrilling 4-3 win over promotion rivals Cribbs which saw three red cards handed out over 90 minutes.
The win took them nine points clear of the Hellenic Prem however their season top goal scorer, Jack Watts, will serve a three-match suspension after being sent off at half-time.
Their manager, Paul Collicutt, supported his striker but acknowledged the impact it could have on the side over the next few weeks:
“It was a silly red card in my opinion, but when you have a game like that then you’re always going to have incidents at some point throughout. I don’t condone what he’s done, and it leaves us without our main man at a time where we have some really tough fixtures”.
“The boys showed great determination and at the end of the day, we came away with three points. It feels like that could be one of our season’s defining games because at one point I didn’t know if we were going to win or not”
If there is one position where the Mitres are blessed with options, it would be in the striker role, however.
Fan favourite Jordan Annear has been electric so far this season and he is likely to start up top come Sunday afternoon.
Another option that Collicutt can fall back on Is 42-year-old Kevin Slack who his manager impressively claims is “in the best shape of his life”.
Slack has scored some crucial goals for his side this season, the most notable being his free kick in the 8-0 domination over Chipping Sodbury.
Speaking about some of his selection worries for this week the former Cheltenham FC player had this to say:
“We’re down to skin and bones now with some of the selections at the minute because of unavailability, Covid and injuries.”
“I can’t question the boys’ morale though! Every time we get into that dressing room whether we win, lose or draw they’re always as one unit and that’s brilliant to see from my perspective”
Calne Town are currently sitting second bottom of the Hellenic Prem, and Cleeve will be looking to impose a dominant display this weekend.
Nevertheless, Collicutt is not underestimating the side and will be approaching it as if they’re facing stiff opposition.
“It’s easy to say that just because we’re at different ends of the table then this will be an easy game, it won’t.”
“When you’re at the top, people want to knock you off your perch and that’s what makes getting promoted so tough. We have a tough run of games now and I’m drilling it into the boys head that every game’s now a cup final”.
It’s a message that is used all the time in football but if you’ve seen the Mitres’ manager on a weekend, you’d know he means it.
Cleeve also return to their home ground in March and their manager was quick to relay his sides excitement.
“We’re all buzzing to return to Bishops Cleeve, even though Evesham has been brilliant, it will mean a lot to return home considering it could be at a time where we’re on the verge of a title”
“I think our first game back there will be against Bradford Town and there’s every chance that it could be a title-deciding game, given how the table’s looking at the moment.”
“We just need to focus on our next games and make sure that when that day comes, we’re in the position we need to be in.”
The Mitres will be looking forward to Sunday’s game which kicks off at 15:00 and all eyes will be on Collicutt’s men to see whether they can overcome their suspension challenges.
