Liskeard ready for acid test with leaders Bridgwater United

LISKEARD Athletic face an acid test of their progress so far this term when they welcome league leaders Bridgwater United to Lux Park tomorrow afternoon (3pm).

The Blues, despite playing more games than their top six rivals, moved up to third in the table on Tuesday night with an impressive 4-1 success at old nemesis’ Bovey Tracey.

However, Bridgwater come to Lux Park for the second time this season having won in the FA Vase back in August, in superb form.

They saw off fellow title hopefuls Clevedon Town 1-0 in front of over 900 supporters in midweek and have already picked up four points so far this term away from home at Liskeard’s Cornish rivals Newquay and St Blazey.

But Liskeard, who have started to find the net with regularity, can enjoy the occasion in what is expected to be their biggest gate of the campaign so far.

Joint boss Darren Gilbert said: “The boys were fantastic on Tuesday – it was probably the most complete performance we’ve had so far.

“We scored early, then let a sloppy goal in, but after that we ran riot and could have had several more goals. I think we hit the woodwork four times this time.

“Bovey are a very good side at home and I have a lot of time for their managers, Ben (Gerring) and Rob (Farkins) and they were really complimentary afterwards. But 4-1 flattered them really.

“Now we face the big boys in Bridgwater – and that’s what they are. I have huge respect for them as a club and their manager and we know it will be a very tough match.

“But if we play anything like we did at Bovey Tracey then we’ll give ourselves a chance of taking something from the game.

“We said before the three games against Wellington, Bovey and Bridgwater that we wanted six points and now that we’ve got them I suppose you could say Saturday is a free hit for us and we can give it a good go.”

Elsewhere in the division, fourth-placed St Blazey – who are the only side unbeaten in the division having won seven and drawn four – visit a Tavistock side who denied them victory in a six-goal thriller last month, while Newquay, who are just a point behind Tavi with a game in-hand face an awkward trip to mid-table Shepton Mallet.

Saltash United have had some time off to regroup following a hectic time of it, but the Ashes will need to be at it from the first whistle when they host Clevedon.

Clevedon arrive at Kimberley Stadium having won in the FA Vase at Camelford last Saturday, and determined to respond from their midweek reversal at Bridgwater.

However, the Seasiders are still second, five points adrift of Bridgy with a game in-hand.

Torpoint Athletic returned to winning ways on Tuesday night as Sam Pearson’s late brace saw them come from behind to beat Sidmouth Town, and The Point start as firm favourites to record back-to-back victories for the first time this campaign when they visit bottom side Wellington who have yet to pick up a point in 14 starts.

Fixtures (3pm): Bovey Tracey v Brislington, Brixham v Portishead Town, Liskeard Athletic v Bridgwater United, Saltash United v Clevedon Town, Shepton Mallet v Newquay, Sidmouth Town v Street, Tavistock v St Blazey, Wellington v Torpoint Athletic, Wells City v Buckland Athletic.