BOURNEMOUTH skipper Martin Miller described tomorrow’s clash with Alton as a “must-win game” – to prove his men can compete in the Southern Premier League.

Despite starting his captaincy with a brace of defeats, Miller insists his new-look team have what it takes to cut the mustard in the top division.

But he concedes that the Chapel Gate outfit must start picking up points and has earmarked their Alton showdown as pivotal.

Miller said: “All things considered, I believe we have a team that can compete at this level. Looking at the fixtures, this was the first match I thought of as a must-win game, as well as next weekend’s match at Hampshire Academy.

“Alton are a team that usually finish in the bottom half of the table and, after the way last season went and with the rebuilding job we’ve had to do, we won’t be far away from them. We need to take every opportunity we can get to win matches.”

Tom Wainwright, Pete Smith and Ryan Scott (all unavailable) are set to be replaced by Luke Matthews, Tom Wilkinson and Gurpreet Singh.

Lions: Miller, Keath, Hand, Coombs, Allum, Wilkinson, Watton, Matthews, G Singh, A Singh, Staniford.

  • Lymington hope to have Scott Henry available for their home clash with Ventnor after visa problems had last week ruled out the Australian star. Bashley are unchanged for their home game against Hampshire Academy.

Lymington: Treagus, Grierson, O’Brien, Jaffer, Cowley, Metcalfe, Beetham, Ellis, Ford, Freeman, Henry.

Bashley: Thurgood, Terry, Baker, Morris, Watkins, Underwood, Ridley, Friedman, Grierson, Neal, Nash.