PROVEN defender Leon Morrison will be missing from Highworth Town’s squad this evening when AFC Totton visit in Southern League Division One, but co-manager Ross Adams is confident reserve players will be able to step in and do an appropriate job.

Adams prides himself on Town’s defensive record since he and John Fisher took charge of the club in late December.

Worthians have conceded only eight goals in seven games since Adams and Fisher’s first game away to Cirencester on New Year’s Day.

Morrison has been a key part in Town’s defensive ability, but he will be suspended this evening after he was shown red during last week’s visit to Winchester City.

Adams said: “We’ll have to bring in someone at the back to replace him, though players within the club are capable of filling his boots this evening.

“We’ll look to the reserves - I want to give them opportunities too between now and the end of the season to see what they’re capable of.”

Totton have lost only one of their four away trips this season, though sit fourth from bottom in the league table having accumulated 25 points from 24 games.

Given Worthians’ home advantage, Adams wants nothing short of three points this evening and has challenged attacking players to prove their worth following a recent goalscoring lull.

He added: “We’ve defended well, but have struggled to get the ball in the back of the net.

“If we do start to score goals, we’ll pick up more positive results than negative.

“From my point of view, we have a lot of work to do moving forward. Stats prove we need to score more goals as a team.

“So strikers need to get themselves in good positions. As a team we need to be better.

“We said to the lads when we joined that we will stick by them until the end of the season and give them the opportunity to show us what they are capable of.

“In fairness, they have done well and I can’t really criticise any players.”