SKIPPER Dan Newton is confident Banstead will pick up their first win of the season against fellow basement boys Valley End on Saturday, admitting losing the crunch tie does not bear thinking about.
The Rams are rock bottom of the Surrey Championship Premier Division, with just two points to show from their eight games thanks to one abandonment and last Saturday's losing draw at Spencer.
But Newton is confident a win against second-to-bottom Valley End will not only lift the Rams up the table but raise spirits at Avenue Road.
"It's the biggest game of our season by a long, long way," Newton admitted. "I think we have a lot resting on this game. If we win on Saturday then obviously we will get the points, which will be huge for us and move us off the bottom, but I think psychologically it will do us good as well.
"Last weekend we did enough to win the game but didn't get it, so to prevail this weekend will be a psychological boost and hopefully start a habit."
And Newton hopes Banstead will be boosted by a number of returning players.
"We will be able to put out a good side against Valley End," he said. "It will be the first time this season we have both our opening bowlers and our first choice spinner available.
"We have Sam Woodward, our former captain, back, who strengthens our batting line up, and off-spin bowler Richard Lock.
"Craig Short, our young wicketkeeper, will be available and Richard Bedbrook, who is a strong bowler and batsman will be back. I've got a lot of confidence in this side."
Banstead looked like they were heading for their first win of the season last weekend when they were 219-3 from 40 overs but due to the reduced overs format, Spencer's 127-5 from 23 overs was enough for a winning draw.
"We were in a winning position but didn't win so we feel hard done by," Newton said. "It was a good team performance and it was great to see Uwe Birkenstock score a century but that was a game we dominated and we didn't win due to a format that favours the side batting second."
