DAVE Busst has been dealt another blow in his bid to elevate Evesham United away from the lower reaches of the Dr Martens League Western Division.

Ever-present full back Andy Smith is at a wedding tomorrow and will be missing for the trip to Ilkeston Town who drew at leaders Redditch last weekend.

However, the Common Road chief will welcome back central defender Lee Knight and he is also awaiting a decision from Studley defender Steven Hands on whether he is willing to step up to a higher status.

Simon Marsh is due back from holiday later today but Busst will make a decision in the morning.

If jet lag is a problem then the manager would have a ready-made replacement if Lee Ross came up with a positive reaction to Busst's approach when the pair spoke spoke on Wednesday night.

"There are a couple more clubs interested in taking Lee on but he did promise to ring me and let me know this week," the United manager revealed.

Reflecting on a fourth successive home defeat, Busst said: "Defensively we were very poor and, as a centre half myself you know that it's fatal to let the ball bounce in dangerous areas.

"But again I have taken some positives from our attacking play but we just have to stop making mistakes."

Dr Martens League Western Division

P W D L F A Pts

Redditch 17 12 3 2 33 11 39

Rugby Utd 20 12 3 5 32 22 39

Bromsgrove 17 9 5 3 27 14 32

Sutton C'field 19 9 5 5 26 17 32

Halesowen 15 8 5 2 32 16 29

Gloucester 14 8 3 3 31 20 27

Team Bath 17 8 3 6 29 21 27

Solihull 17 8 3 6 20 15 27

Cirencester 14 8 2 4 28 15 26

Swindon SM 19 7 5 7 21 29 26

Gresley 18 7 3 8 27 26 24

Clevedon 19 7 3 9 23 26 24

Ilkeston 19 6 6 7 24 33 24

Stourport 18 5 6 7 23 27 21

Taunton Tn 16 6 2 8 19 22 20

Yate 17 5 3 9 21 33 18

Evesham 19 5 2 12 27 34 17

Mangotsfield 14 5 1 8 22 36 16

Bedworth 18 3 5 10 16 28 14

Shepshed 21 2 8 11 16 41 14

Cinderford 18 3 4 11 21 32 13