BOSS Ollie Cherrett says he is "excited and nervous" heading into Christchurch’s crucial Sydenhams Wessex One promotion shoot-out at Shaftesbury tonight.

A five-game winless run has seen Cherrett’s team drop off the pace at the top end of the table.

Nevertheless, the 13-match unbeaten streak which preceded their mini-slump means fifth-placed Christchurch remain within touching distance of the top three.

Shaftesbury have seized on the momentum of last season’s Dorset Premier League title-winning campaign to sit one place and two points ahead of their visitors.

Cherrett told the Daily Echo: “I have massive respect for Shaftesbury. Teams that come up are always extremely dangerous because they are used to winning matches.

“They are a great club and they have done extremely well this year. I don’t think there will be a lot between the teams. It could be one individual mistake which decides the match.

“I’m looking forward to the game. I’m excited and nervous at the same time, which is a good sign.”

Cherrett is refusing to give up the ghost on his side’s promotion hopes and says his players share his belief they can pull off something special.

The manager, however, admits Christchurch’s chances of closing their nine-point deficit on Laverstock & Ford, who occupy the third and final promotion spot, will be all but over if this evening’s mission goes up in smoke.

Laverstock were beaten 3-1 at fellow high-fliers Baffins Milton Rovers on Saturday but Cherrett, whose troops were held 0-0 at home by lowly Hythe & Dibden at the weekend, says his team can’t simply rely on their rivals slipping up.

“We have to get our own house in order and win games of football,” he added.

“Then you have the right to look at other results and see how other teams are getting on. We have to get back to winning ways. That is a must if we want to go up.

"The players and everybody else at the club are fully aware that losing to Shaftesbury would make it nigh-on impossible for us to be promoted.

“You can hope one other team will slip up but if you’re asking two or three to lose form then you’re clutching at straws.”