MANAGER Ollie Cherrett is preparing Christchurch for a "make or break" clash with runaway Sydenhams Wessex One leaders Hamble Club tonight.

Cherrett's team have taken only one point from their past three games to leave them in fifth place, 10 points adrift of the top two.

Prior to their mini-slump, Christchurch had not tasted defeat in 13 matches and their boss reckons a trip to powerful Hamble could prove to be just what the doctor ordered.

Cherrett told the Daily Echo: "The game is massive. It is only three points but I do think we need to win.

"Draws are no good for us now. If we want to achieve promotion, we will have to win our last 10 games, it is that simple – and even then that might not be enough.

"Make or break sounds very final, but we are not far away from that.

"We have to bounce back. If we don’t win tonight then it is out of our hands.

"At the moment, we need an injection of something. Perhaps our toughest fixture, away from home, will give us that."

Cherrett's already meagre resources have been further stretched after Stevie Rattue's knee injury was diagnosed as a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament with the forward expected to be sidelined for six months.

Nevertheless, the manager, who refused Hamble's request to move the game back 24 hours to Wednesday, says his team's 3-2 victory in the reverse fixture in October will fuel belief they can summon a repeat display.

"We have already shown we can beat them," added Cherrett.

"There should be no fear on our part. When questions are asked of you, the perfect way to answer them is to win a big game.

"We know if we do not play well, we will be beaten, whereas, against one or two teams in this league, you can play poorly and still get a positive result.

"Hamble are top of the league for a reason. We have to give them the respect they have earned, but we won’t be fearing them, that’s for sure."