JOINT manager Paul Oakes has described Saturday’s home clash against Alvis as a game Fairfield Villa must not lose.

Villa go into the clash in second place in the Midland Combination Division One after Saturday’s thrilling 4-3 win at Knowle.

But while Fairfield are flying high, joint-manager Oakes is well aware of the threat which Alvis pose.

The six-placed Coventry-based side have lost just once in the league all season and are involved in a number of cup competitions, which has resulting in them playing less games than all the sides above them.

He said: “Alvis are a very good side and this will be a tough match for us.

“Alvis are still in several cups and have only lost once very narrowly in the league.

“This is a game we must not lose if we are to keep pushing on.”

Villa go into the Alvis clash on the back of 10 straight wins in all competitions after edging out Knowle in Saturday’s seven-goal thriller.

They had powered into a 3-1 lead thanks to goals for Brendan Hicks, Lewis Cosgrove and Steve McGlenn only for Knowle to power back to 3-3 in the second half.

But McGlenn made sure of the three points late on.

Oakes said: “That was a game won because we worked hard and kept believing.

“We tend to have these exciting matches against Knowle but we’ve got a good squad.

“I look at the table now and I can see the top six breaking away.

“What’s exciting is that all the top sides have to play each other, so it is very hard to predict who will finish where.”

Meanwhile, Hicks looks set to speak with Alvechurch next week after the Midland Alliance outfit submitted a seven-day request for the hitman.

The former Feckenham player had only recently joined from Redditch United reserves.