EVESHAM United manager Paul Collicutt is hoping the first-half of Easter Monday’s match against Wantage Town will act as a wake-up call for his team ahead of the play-offs.

Although the Robins won 5-2 at the Jubilee Stadium to stretch their winning run to seven games, they trailed 2-0 inside 17 minutes to a team just above the Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South and West relegation zone.

With three games left to seal either second or third spot, which would give them home advantage in the play-offs, Collicutt knows they can’t afford any more slip-ups ahead of tomorrow’s trip to sixth-placed Didcot Town (3pm).

“We had a bit of a blip on Monday and it really woke my players up and hopefully it is a kick up the backside,” the Evesham boss said.

“It’s easy to criticise players but how can I do that when they have played so admirably over the last 25 games? But it could give us a gee-up going into these important matches. Our run-in is very hard but the lads have done well so far.

“I want to finish as high as we can in the league. We are guaranteed fourth spot and if you had offered me that at the start of the season I would have taken it. But now we are chasing second and third positions because it gives you home advantage in the play-offs.”

Didcot won 3-1 at the Jubilee Stadium back in September and have also beaten champions Merthyr this season.

Defender Lewis Binns (ankle) and midfielders Ollie Knowles (back) and Sean Wood (ankle) all face fitness tests for Evesham before tomorrow’s match.