DARREN Partington believes Merrymakers Old Boys will have to be prepared for “cup finals” every week in the Thames Valley Sunday League Premier Division this season.

Merrymakers won Division One last year and are adjusting to competition in the top flight with one win and a defeat from their first two matches.

Partington has had to give his players a “kick up the backside” but he believes there is enough quality in the squad to compete with the very best.

“The Premier Division is definitely a step up in terms of quality,” the Merrymakers boss told the Observer.

“Week in, week out you know you have to battle with the big clubs and big players. Some of them are semi-professional so the quality is definitely there.

“We’ve beaten these teams before in cup matches, but they are one-off games, so we have to get up for cup finals week in week out.”

Partington added: “It’s just a case of players getting used to the league and the need to put our strongest team out.

“We’ve lost a couple of players and the new ones have got to gel as quickly as possible.

“We used to be able to turn up with no warm-up, feel our way into games, and nine times out of 10 still win, but it’s an eye-opener for the players in the Premier.

“It’s just about playing the strongest side week in week out, but I like to play all my players and give everyone a game. But, there will come a time when results and performances are most important.”

He continued: “There’s no point in thinking you’re going to lose. We’ve come in to win the league and three points every week.

“We don't want to be mid-table or down fighting relegation because the quality is there in the team.

“We've had a little kick up the backside and a few talks but it's just about getting out our preferred strongest side."