TORPOINT Athletic make the short trip to Saltash United tomorrow morning (11am) locked in a four-way battle to secure their first-ever promotion to Southern League Division One South.
The Point have enjoyed a remarkable season under joint bosses Dean Cardew and the outgoing Karl Curtis - and with five games remaining know that a maximum haul will get the job done.
However, they remain four points behind leaders Clevedon Town following their 1-1 draw at fourth-placed Barnstaple on Tuesday night, a result which was impressive, yet frustrating, as the Reds equalised in the 94th minute through Brodie Montague’s header.
Paulton Rovers are the other side in the mix and underlined their remarkable form with a 5-3 victory at play-off hopefuls Buckland Athletic at the same time.
It means Paulton have a one-point cushion over Torpoint and Barnstaple - with the Somerset side and Town both having four games remaining compared to the Point’s five.
Tomorrow afternoon sees Barnstaple welcome mid-table Wellington in a game they will start firm favourites for, while Rovers are away at Street who would love to beat their local rivals.
Clevedon will hope for help from elsewhere but resume their campaign on Easter Monday at home to ever-improving Brislington, while their trio of rivals are all on their travels.
Torpoint face a tricky trip to Ivybridge, Barnstaple go to Bridgwater and Paulton are the visitors at Shepton Mallet.
All four sides are guaranteed a slot in the end of season play-offs, but would love to pip the rest and become champions and avoid the drama.
Buckland’s midweek defeat ensures Newquay still have an outside chance of taking the fifth and final play-off spot ahead of their trip to Brislington tomorrow.
It’s a long way to Bristol on a Easter weekend, but if the Peppermints head back to the Duchy with three points before Monday’s home clash with Oldland, they are in the mix.
A large home crowd – which will include the new IBF International Middleweight champion Brad Pauls – awaits at Mount Wise on Monday, so there’s plenty to play for.
After welcoming Torpoint tomorrow, Saltash are at Kimberley Stadium once again on Monday as in-form Street head to South East Cornwall.
The Ashes are all but out of contention, but would love to finish in the top half.
St Blazey secured their first point under Dan Hart at Street last Saturday and are on their travels again on Friday when they head to Oldland Abbotonians.
While the hosts are all but guaranteed to finish last (Nailsea and Tickenham and AFC St Austell have failed to finish the season), they have improved markedly under boss Lee Lashenko and recently drew 0-0 at Buckland.
Both teams will fancy their chances of three points as players look to impress their new managers ahead of next season.
Helston Athletic are looking to the future having taken voluntary relegation to the South West Peninsula League Premier West for next season, and the Blues only have Monday to worry about when they visit Buckland Athletic.
The Bucks will start as clear favourites, but if Helston can deny Matt Cusack’s side victory against his old side, Newquay would be delighted.
Good Friday fixtures
11am: Saltash United v Torpoint Athletic; 1pm: Barnstaple Town v Wellington, Oldland Abbotonians v St Blazey, Shepton Mallet v Bradford Town, Sidmouth Town v Bridgwater United, Street v Paulton Rovers; 3pm: Brislington v Newquay, Ivybridge Town v Buckland Athletic.
Easter Monday fixtures
1pm: Clevedon Town v Brislington, Shepton Mallet v Paulton Rovers; 3pm: Bridgwater United v Barnstaple Town, Buckland Athletic v Helston Athletic, Ivybridge Town v Torpoint Athletic, Newquay v Oldland Abbotonians, Saltash United v Street, Wellington v Sidmouth Town.





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