PURTON face a crunch game when they face Marshfield this weekend as they aim not to be cut adrift from the teams above them.

Aaron Lee’s side play host to the team that sit one place and 13 points above them in the Wiltshire Division.

Following last weekend’s 172 run drubbing at the hands of Trowbridge Purton will be looking for an immediate response.

Purton welcome back Tom Bowler, who has a five-wicket haul and two fifties to his name this season, to their side and Lee believes he could be key to victory this weekend.

“It makes this weekend’s game against Marshfield very important because they are one place above us,” explained Lee.

“We will keep bouncing back and we’ll come back stronger. We were missing Tom at the weekend who was one of our key players so it will be good to have him back.”

Despite the stop-start opening to Purton’s season, which has seen them win three and lose five, Lee is confident his side have the ability to compete if they gain some consistency.

“We’re working hard and we will come good and be there, or there abouts, come the end of the season,” he added.

“We are in a rough patch and we just have to get through it and work hard. I think they are good enough players to know what they need to do.

“They need to go and work hard on their individual games but in the context of what we are trying to achieve as a team.

“If we perform to our ability there is no reason why we shouldn’t win this game on Saturday and then we’ll move up to fifth and will be a lot happier than we have been.

“The thing is there are some strong teams in this league. We knew it was going to be a tough year going in and we lost quite a lot of players this year and a change of the guard with myself coming in as captain, it was always going to be a difficult year.

“But we have some good players in that side and they are capable of beating anyone on their day. It is just a case of consistency really.”

Division pacesetters Marlborough will look to extend their lead when they play host to bottom side Malmesbury.