HELLENIC LEAGUE: WOOTTON BASSETT boss Pete Yeardley insists he is feeling no pressure despite his side's precarious position in the bottom two of the Hellenic Premier Division.
Without a win since November, goal shy Bassett are flirting dangerously with a return to Division One West.
But as one of the few non-paying top flight clubs, Yeardley was always expecting a tough season for his team of youngsters.
"I'm not feeling under pressure," he said. "The committee and the supporters are understanding of our financial situation.
"We're probably one of only two Premier Division teams that don't pay their players.
"That money can buy you a proven forward who can get you 30 goals a season and that's the difference at the moment.
"So in that respect I don't feel any pressure but I do feel disappointed for the people who put hard work into this club that we are in the position we are.
"I hope we can stay in this division because we've got some very good young lads here who are going places. At the moment we've got a lot of young lads who are playing well but not getting any end result."
Yeardley is hoping to boost his quota of talented teenagers by recruiting former Supermarine starlet Steve Dixey ahead of the club's trip to Carterton tomorrow.
Ian Gill returns in goal after missing the 1-0 defeat at North Leigh on Tuesday and the more senior Lee Morse and Mark Vaughan are back in contention.
Highworth's wretched run of form hit a new low on Wednesday with a 3-1 defeat at Premier Division also-rans Pegasus.
John Fisher's side have taken just two points out of a possible 18 to leave the former title hopefuls staring a mid-table finish in the face.
The manager hopes a trek to high-flying Slimbridge will provide the springboard for a return to form.
"We can't buy a win at the moment," said Fisher. "The lads are giving 100 per cent but the harder they try the worse it seems to get.
"But we'd rather be playing a top side like Slimbridge in this situation. By playing a quality team my players might rediscover their own quality."
Sean Terry is a doubt after injuring an ankle at Pegasus while Pete Macklin serves the final game of his suspension.
With 25 unbeaten league games under their belts, Purton should have one hand on the Division One West title by now.
But a spate of 'silly' draws and the relentless pursuit by Ross, Shrivenham and Witney could leave Alan Clark's men with just a two-point advantage when games in hand are resolved.
"You would think that the amount of games we have gone unbeaten that we should be walking it, but we're not," said Clark.
"We had a spell where we weren't playing well and picking up silly draws when four of those should have been wins. It just shows that we have to keep our concentration for 90 minutes if we want to win this league."
Purton continue their quest for the crown at home to mid-table Easington Sports tomorrow, having dropped two points in the reverse fixture back in October.
Clark hopes to welcome back Toby Fowler and Kenny Hawkins for the clash.
Shrivenham lost some ground in the chase with a 0-0 draw at Witney on Tuesday but manager Alan Dyton was pleased to welcome back Tate Hulbert, John Peters, Michael Silvanus, Carl Watkins and Steve Winchcombe.
The only fitness doubt for their trip to Adderbury Park is Nathan Holt. The midfielder has an ankle injury and is unlikely to be risked with crucial games against Ardley and Ross on the horizon.
CHERRY RED RECORDS HELLENIC LEAGUE FIXTURES
Premier Division: Abingdon Utd v Pegasus Jnrs, Bishops Cleeve v Didcot Tn, Brackley Tn v Almondsbury Tn, Carterton Tn v Wootton Bassett Tn, Chipping Norton Tn v Pewsey Vale, Gloucester Utd v North Leigh, Henley Tn v Bicester Tn, Hook Norton v Fairford Tn, Hungerford Tn v Tuffley Rovers, Shortwood Utd v Southall Tn, Slimbridge v Highworth Tn.
Division One West: Adderbury Pk v Shrivenham, Ardley Utd v Kidlington, Cheltenham Saracens v Old Woodstock Tn, Cirencester Utd v Winterbourne Utd, Clanfield v Ross Tn, Headington Amateurs v Witney Utd, Middle Barton v Malmesbury Vic, Purton v Easington Sports.
Division One East: Badshot Lea v Milton Utd, Chinnor v Finchampstead, Englefield Green Rovers v Chalfont Wasps, Holyport v Penn & Tylers Green, Letcombe v Hounslow Borough, Martinb Baker Sports v Binfield, Rayners Lane v Prestwood.
Reserve Division One: Banbury Utd v Brackley Tn, Highworth Tn v Kidlington, North Leigh v Cheltenham Saracens, Wootton Bassett Tn v Fairford Tn.
Reserve Division two West: Almondsbury Tn v Hook Norton, Easington Sports v Middle Barton, Old Woodstock Tn v Letcombe, Witney Utd v Chipping Norton Tn.
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