CHIPPENHAM Town full-back Ross Adams believes tomorrow's Southern League clash with leaders Hemel Hempstead Town will be a good test of the Bluebirds' title credentials.

Just three points separate Hemel and fifth-placed Town and Adams is confident that gap can be bridged with another stellar home performance.

He said: "It's too early to tell where we will finish from one game, but it will be a good indicator. Being at home this is the sort of game we cannot afford to lose.

"We've made Hardenhuish Park a little bit of a fortress this year so hopefully that can work in our favour."

With 48 goals between them already this season, supporters of both sides could be in for a real treat.

But after a battling 1-0 win at improving Rugby Town on Tuesday night, Adams has made a case for the defence.

He said: "We have to learn to keep more clean sheets and try to grind out results because we're not going to score three or four every week.

"I think the game at Rugby was a perfect example of what Adie (Mings) is looking for.

"We restricted them to one clear-cut chance in the second half and looked really solid at the back.

"If we can keep nicking things away from home and carry on our good form at Hardenhuish, we won't be far off the top.'' Cirencester Town goalkeeper Matt Bullman insists his team must learn to stand up to the Southern League's bully boys.

The former Swindon Town gloveman believes the Centurions have been push-overs so far this season and must add some back-bone to their pretty passing game.

Bullman said: "We are the nicest team in the world and that's part of the problem. We like to pass the ball around and play nice football but most of the teams in this league just want to kick you.

"We play better against the top sides but we need to be more physical."

And Bullman has labelled tomorrow's match against Tiverton Town a "must win" if Ciren are to start climbing the Premier Division table.

He said: "It's vital that we get three points on Saturday because November is a big month for us. We can't afford to get left behind."