Tomorrow, the Reds continue on their dream road to Wembley with a crunch quarter-final FA Vase tie at Merstham (ko 3pm), before a League Cup semi-final tie at Felixstowe & Walton United on Tuesday (ko 7.45pm).

However, after picking up his 10th yellow card of the season against St Ives in the last round of the Vase, club captain Mark Bailey is ruled out of both encounters through suspension.

The 34-year-old midfield general has been key to Needham's success this season, playing the central holding role impeccably and chipping in with four goals along the way – including one in the FA Vase first-round win against Ely City.

Team manager Danny Laws said, "Not having Mark for the most important period in our season is a massive blow. He is a real presence in midfield and wins everything in the air.

"But, when one door shuts, another one opens and I hope the player to replace Mark will be up for the challenge."

Left with the task of filling Bailey's boots is likely to be the versatile Jay Denniss, while Rhys Barber will wear the skipper's armband.

The Bloomfields-based outfit go into tomorrow's match on the back of their worst run of the season – two straight defeats.

After Ridgeons League Premier Division title rivals Wroxham ended the Reds' 25-game unbeaten run on Saturday (match report on page 75), a weakened Needham crashed out of the East Anglian Cup on Tuesday following a 2-0 away defeat at Leiston.

Meanwhile, Surrey-based Merstham have not lost a fixture in the CCL Premier League since the opening game of the season and are 13 points clear of nearest rivals Guildford City with five games in hand.

"We need to pick ourselves up quickly," said Laws. "If we don't, a team of Merstham's quality will make us pay.

"They are an aggressive team who score lots of goals and defend well, but I am confident we can rise to the occasion and more than match them."

If Needham are slight underdogs for tomorrow, they are clear favourites for the midweek semi-final.

Laws added, "While the game at Felixstowe is equally as important as the Vase, we cannot afford to think about that yet. We are taking each one as it comes and that is vital if we want to win both ties."