LEADING scorer Sam Bowen is expected to lead United's attack in Saturday's FA Trophy first round clash at Leatherhead, writes Mervyn Collins.

The former FA Cup giantkillers - they sent Leicester City spinning out in the seventies - have fallen on hard times and now languish in Division One of the Ryman League.

After a terrible start to the season, the Surrey outfit has won their last two Saturday games and will provide a stern test of Evesham's credentials.

Phil Mullen, then, will be glad to welcome back his star striker although skipper Steve Taylor is a definite non-starter.

The Common Road chief, though, has had more good news after Worcester City allowed John Deakin permission to play and the midfielder will now spend another month alongside Bowen, his former City teammate.

"Sam got 15 minutes in on Saturday and looked good in training on Monday," said boss Mullen. "We missed him up front last weekend when we really should have had the game sewn up by half-time.

"The pitch was a decisive factor but they worked harder than we did in the second half."

Also missing this weekend will be Joe Licata, who is still some way off fitness after ankle ligament trouble, while teenager James Brown will pay a heavy price for getting sent off with the youth team. He starts a five-week ban.

A coach is going to Leatherhead and it will leave the High Street Bus Station at 10am. For details ring 442303.

If the game ends in a draw, the replay will take place at Common Road on Tuesday (7.45pm).

Scott Sutherland scored in the junior side's 1-1 Midland Floodlit League draw against Pegasus Juniors. The youngsters will be back in action next Wednesday when they entertain Stourbridge in the League Cup second round (7.30).

Dates have been set aside for matches in a couple of other knockout competitions, involving the club's senior players.

Hednesford will visit Common Road on Tuesday, November 28 (7.45) in the second round of the Birmingham Senior Cup and two weeks later - December 12 - United will make the short trip to Redditch for a Worcestershire Senior Cup tie.

The draw for another county cup - the Royal Infirmary Senior Cup - sees United playing host to Malvern Town in a tie scheduled to be completed before December 18.

United's Boxing Day league game at Solihull will kick off at 11.30am, while it's a 7.30pm start at home to Bromsgrove on New Year's Day.