JOE Tumelty has been passed fit to try to help Evesham United beat the odds and make the Southern League Division One South play-offs.

The creative midfielder’s season has been hampered by complications following surgery on a hernia but he has finally been given the green light to play again ahead of Sunday’s showdown with title outsiders Moneyfields (3pm).

“I am hoping to name Joe on the bench. He has worked very hard over the past few weeks to get himself in shape and fit enough to be involved,” said boss Paul Collicutt.

“He has been given the okay to be considered for selection, it has been a long old road for the lad and hopefully he can get an injury-free run now.”

Linden Dovey also comes back into contention for a match United must win to stand any chance of making the cut.

They may go into the game needing snookers with the rest of the division playing 24 hours earlier but Collicutt is refusing to wave the white flag.

"Winchester play Cinderford on the last day of the season so if you can take it to the last game then you never know," he added.

“Until someone says it cannot be done you keep going. We have nine points to play for and we have to take as many as possible.

“Sunday is probably the biggest game of the season and by 10 to five we will know whether there is something to reach for in our last two games.

“Moneyfields are a big strong side who have beaten us twice already. The FA Trophy match at our place was probably one of our poorest games of the season.

“They are a good team, their position shows that and we are in for a difficult game but I would much rather have it that way. We are looking forward to it.

“If anyone in the area is not doing a lot please come down to support us, we need your backing like never before.”

Hope springs eternal on the back of Saturday’s 1-0 win over relegation-threatened Barnstaple Town.

“The pitch has taken a battering this season and with the way the wind dried it out, the surface was not the easiest to play on. It was bobbling here and there,” said Collicutt.

“They were no mugs and fought for everything. We have played better than we did on Saturday and lost this season but three points and a clean sheet at this stage of the season is something you cannot turn down.”