DAVE Busst revealed that Jermaine Clarke was forced out of Saturday's match when the diabetes sufferer's sugar levels dropped, writes Mervyn Collins.

"Jermaine takes a jab before every game but he wasn't feeling well at half-time," the Evesham manager recalled. "He was still sat in the dressing room when the rest of the players were out on the field and Leon (Blake), who has seen him have one of these attacks before, told me that he thought something was wrong."

Busst was happy with the way his side fought back in the second half. "I was pleased with the workrate throughout and we totally steamrollered them in the second half but were just enable to get the second goal that we deserved."

The Common Road chief should have a full-strength squad to choose from for Monday's trip to Stourport with Danny Williams and Steve Duncan free from suspension and Simeon Willi-ams fit again.

Busst revealed that he would be happy with seven points from the three holiday matches that would certainly be an improvement on the meagre two collected from the past three games.

"No one has been able to take advantage of our slip ups and the whole promotion picture has now tightened up with Bromsgrove looking the most dangerous of the chasers," the Evesham boss reflected.

Busst was also keen to express his support for skipper Lee Knight, while also clearing up Wesley Joyce's position at the club.

"If Lee doesn't get suspended then he's not doing his job properly," Busst admitted. "He gets really fired and he's very competitive and that's why he picks up so many cautions.

"And, when Wesley is available to play again, then I will definitely consider him for inclusion. He's a great footballer and, apart from the red card against Mangotsfield, he's done a great job me."

Following Monday's visit to Walshes Meadow (3pm), United entertain the division's n-form side Corby Town on New Year's Day (3) before a trip to Sutton Coldfield Town on January 3 (3).

The Coles Lane outfit, 2-1 winners at Common Road in August, find themselves next to bottom having had 11 points deducted for fielding an ineligible player earlier in the season.

The match against Corby is being sponsored by Evesham painter and decorator Charlie Flint and the ball by Whitehead Alloys (Middlesbrough).

Southern League

Division One West

P W D L F A Pts

Mangotsfield 22 12 4 6 46 32 40

Evesham Utd 21 11 6 4 34 17 39

Clevedon 21 12 0 9 39 29 36

Rothwell 20 11 3 6 32 23 36

Yate Town 20 10 4 6 36 21 34

Bromsgrove 19 9 7 3 30 20 34

Brackley 20 9 6 5 35 24 33

Taunton 21 9 6 6 36 32 33

Paulton 20 9 4 7 31 27 31

Marlow 21 7 8 6 39 37 29

Corby Town 21 8 5 8 29 33 29

Stourport 20 8 3 9 34 28 27

Thame Utd 18 8 3 7 24 23 27

Cinderford 17 8 2 7 24 23 26

Ashford 17 7 4 6 26 21 25

Burnham 21 7 3 11 35 40 24

Swindon S 21 4 9 8 21 28 21

Oxford City 21 6 3 12 28 39 21

Bedworth 21 5 5 11 18 34 20

Bracknell 22 5 3 14 26 49 18

Sutton C* 21 8 4 9 23 30 17

Egham 17 1 2 14 10 46 5

*11 points deducted.

Midland Floodlit Youth League

Southern Division

P W D L F A Pts

Worcester City 10 9 1 0 34 7 28

Gloucester City 10 7 1 2 32 9 22

Wellington 9 7 1 1 29 10 22

Redditch Utd 10 5 1 4 27 18 16

Alvechurch 9 4 2 3 19 16 14

Malvern Tn 11 4 1 6 15 28 13

Evesham Utd 11 3 1 7 19 30 10

Cinderford Tn 9 2 1 6 15 28 7

Broms Rvrs 11 2 1 8 14 34 7

Bromyard Tn 8 1 0 7 9 33 3