Marlborough make five changes to the team that has suffered back to back losses to Marshfield and Devizes in recent weeks and seen their title challenge badly dented.
The Forest outfit currently sit in 3rd place in the WEPL Wiltshire Division 18 points adrift of league leaders Trowbridge and 10 behind 2nd placed Westbury with six games still to play.
Marlborough Captain Arran Dickinson knows there is still all to play for but another loss would no doubt end their title aspirations for this season. “I still believe we can turn this back around and challenge for the title but a win on Saturday against Purton is now essential.
We are probably now the slight outsiders in a three horse race and we will need some results to go our way for us to win the title from here. However we probably have the easiest run in of the three teams and the game we have against Trowbridge will be a big game for us if we can get back to winning ways from now until then. Trowbridge have not only to play us but also Westbury and Marshfield who are no easy opponents and Marshfield will have a big say and influence in the outcome of this season’s title. Westbury have Marshfield and Trowbridge to play so there is still plenty of opportunities for the top two to slip up so we definitely still have all to play for.”
Marlborough have the return of Ben Head and Mike Bush for this week’s home game with Purton and also bring in opening bat Mark Wingfield-Digby and Keeper Archie Wheeler for their first games of the season for cover for the unavailable George Penfold. Seamer Will Langton also returns as Paul Smith and Dave West make way and return to the 2’s this week.
Dickinson added. “It’s good to have Ben and Mike back this week as it is a big game this weekend for both teams. A further loss for us would probably end our title challenge but a loss for Purton will put them in a real relegation battle so I have no doubt Arran Lee and his Purton boys will be up for this weekend’s game.”