KYLE Critchell has been sorely missed by the Terras in their last two games, according to Matt Groves.

At first it looked like Weymouth could cope without the injured midfielder but following successive defeats against Stourbridge and Chesham United, his absence is clearly being felt.

Assistant-manager Groves told Echosport: “Before Kyle got injured he was playing in centre midfield and had just taken over the captaincy while Scott Wal-ker was out.

“During that time we played some excellent football and there was no doubt he was a key player for us.

“His leadership and sheer presence in there were massive and in that sense I think the Stourbridge and Chesham games would have been ideal for him.

“Chesham got the better of us in midfield and individually, but had Kyle been out there I am not so sure that would have happened.

“Not only is he excellent at breaking the play up but he is also fantastic at driving the team on, and every side needs someone like that, particularly in the big games.

“We have certainly missed him there is no doubt about that but that is no excuse either.

“The last two performances have been poor and the lads know they should have done a lot better.”

The Terras now sit just outside the play-offs on goal difference in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division but have played more games than all those around them.

Groves now reckons five wins out of the last six will be required to stand any chance of a top-five finish. He added: “We got ourselves into such a great position but in the last two games we have gone and messed it up.

“Having said that we are still in with a shout and all we can do is regroup and look to respond.

“Our next two games are against teams in the bottom seven and if we win them who knows where it could take us?”

Weymouth will host Redditch United on Saturday before travelling to Bashley on Easter Monday, but with Critchell still recovering from a fractured ankle and Ed Palmer, Craig Duff and Walker all set to serve suspensions, it is clear they are right up against it.