ROUND ONE NORTH: Eljay Worrell says Great Wakering Rovers are treating every game like a cup final as they look to secure their Ryman One North status for another season.

Rovers are seven points above the drop zone following last Saturday’s 2-0 win over relegation rivals Barkingside, although face a tough examination when they head to Wroxham tomorrow.

Worrell, 25, has been a fixture in the team this term, since he signed from Redbridge in the summer and the former Grays Athletic, Tilbury and Billericay Town man wants the team to push on and consolidate their position in the division.

“We haven’t thought about playing Essex Senior League football,” said the versatile Worrell. “We are focused solely on winning the games in front of us and then we can think about next season.

“That said, we need to treat every game as a cup final and take advantage of teams that don’t have as much to play for.”

All but two of Rovers final eight games are against sides in the bottom half, with one of their hardest tests to come tomorrow in Norfolk.

But Worrell says the team aren’t thinking about October 4-0 home defeat at the hands of Wroxham and are confident of getting a result.

“We have done well against the sides furthest away this season,” he said. “We played well but lost at Needham Market and won at Dereham Town so we head there aiming to get a positive result.

“We were quite unlucky at the start of the season,” he said. “We played a lot of the hardest teams in the league and our lack of fitness told but we have really pushed on since then. I think some of the teams may have underestimated us at the start of the season but they certainly aren’t anymore.

“Everyone here has made me so welcome and I want to repay them and keep us up.”