All to play for at business end of season
Local football is shaping up for its most interesting weekend of the season as league title, relegation and promotion spots can be confirmed in the Premier Division and First Division.
Each match in the Premier Division has implications at both ends of the table, as well as Dudley Eve Trophy qualification for four mid-table teams.
Dandy Town sit atop the Premier Division with two games remaining, with North Village two points back and Somerset Trojans five points adrift but with a game in hand. Town have their fate in their own hands and will be looking at least to maintain their two-point lead when they travel to Lord’s to play relegation-threatened St David’s.
A win for Town, coupled with the two chasers slipping up, will hand them the 2013-14 league title with one weekend to spare. Village welcome Hamilton Parish to Bernard Park, while Trojans host PHC tonight at Somerset Cricket Club as they aim to apply pressure on the other title contenders before tomorrow’s matches.
“You can’t take anyone lightly right now,” Damon Ming, the veteran Dandy Town midfielder, said. “Each team has their own ambitions they want to fulfil in the last two games and ours is to be on top at the end of the season.
“We know the title is ours to lose, but we won’t go out and play like that. We will respect our opponents and go out to win the match as we always do.”
At the other end of the table, Southampton Rangers can take a huge step towards securing their spot in the top flight for next season with a win at home to Flanagan’s Onions.
St David’s do not control their fate, however, as they sit one point behind Rangers and a point above Wolves. Tomorrow’s match with Town will be a tough test for the home side, who helped their cause last weekend with a huge win over Wolves, while Rangers went down at home to Town.
Robin Hood can be the first side to confirm their promotion to the Premier Division when they play BAA Wanderers tonight at Goose Gosling Field at 9.00. A win for Hood guarantees they will not be caught by third-placed Devonshire Colts, while virtually assuring a quick return to the top flight as St George’s Colts, in second, and Devonshire Colts still have to play each other.
St George’s, who are two points behind Hood, play Young Men’s Social Club at Bernard Park tomorrow and can take a step towards promotion with a win. They are three points clear of Devonshire Colts, who travel to White Hill Field to play Somerset Eagles in a must-win match.
The other First Division fixtures have X-Roads hosting Ireland Island Rangers at Garrison Field and Boulevard playing Paget at Police Field.
