Bath City

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Bath City v Ebbsfleet United

Adie Britton admits time is running out as battling Bath City prepare for Saturday's visit of Ebbsfleet United.

The Romans, who lost 1-0 at Newport County on Tuesday, will enter proceedings rock bottom of the Blue Square Bet Premier standings with 18 points - six points behind nearest strugglers Hayes & Yeading United.

Naturally, under-fire manager Britton is heavily concerned with their position. He hopes the return of captain Gethin Jones and leading scorer Sean Canhan from suspension will revive their campaign.

"We are reaching the stage where we simply have to put a couple of victories together and it will be good to have those extra resources to call on, we've been really stretched over the past few weeks," he told This is Bath.

New signing Tommy Doherty is in line to make his debut, with Doherty backing the veteran ex-Bristol City midfielder to impress at Twerton Park.

"Tom's status is legendary," said Britton. "He's been a fantastic player over the years.

"I spoke to him over the summer about joining City but he chose to go to Newport. I don't think it worked out for him but we think he'll be happy with us.

"He'll enjoy the dressing room and we think it will bring the best out of him. He's coming for the right reasons - he wants to play football and we're looking forward to having him in our midst."

In other team news, Britton is expected to be without Scott Murray (hamstring) and Jamie Cook (ankle ligaments). The pair, however, are likely to shake off their respective knocks in time for next Tuesday's basement scrap with Hayes and Yeading.

Ebbsfleet, meanwhile, are in comparative comfort in 15th place on the table, although they recently suffered a 3-0 home defeat to Mansfield.

Club boss Ian Bogie hopes his men respond accordingly at the weekend.

"Every game is vital but Saturday is against a team who are below us in the league, and that gives us a chance to widen the gap," he told the Gravesend Reporter.

"We go to win every game, but Bath, on their own patch, will be a decent hurdle for us to overcome and get another three points."

Bogie will still be without goalkeeper Joe Welch and forward Michael West. Welch faces another month on the sidelines following a successful hernia operation on Monday, while Welch has extended his loan stay at Blue Square Bet South side Bromley until March 13.