So who’s going to win the South West Peninsula League premier west title and, as a result, take the big step of promotion to the Western League?
It’s been a two-horse race for some time, with St Austell and Liskeard Athletic battling it out week in, week out, mainly with wins.
But as the pressure has mounted, results have been more unpredictable and both sides have suffered shock home defeats to a Newquay side now in third place, albeit 17 points behind Liskeard and 21 adrift of St Austell.
After the Blues lost their first home league game of the season against the Peppermints on Thursday night, they were still considered slight favourites because they had a game in hand and were only two points behind.
But the advantage turned back to St Austell on Saturday when they won 2-1 at Holsworthy while Liskeard were held 1-1 at Newquay.
So as we move into the last 11 days of the badly disrupted premier west season, the Lillywhites lead by four points with four games to play in 10 days and if they win them all they’ll be crowned champions.
Liskeard have five games to play in 11 days and will hope they can quickly rediscover their best form while relying on their title rivals to falter somewhere along the line.
The hectic last lap starts tonight (Wednesday April 17) when the Blues face St Dennis in a fixture switched to Lux Park because St Dennis’s pitch is waterlogged.
Just along the road, St Austell will be taking on Dobwalls at Lantoom Park.
The Lillywhites had a recent unhappy night under the Lantoom lights where they crashed out of the Walter C Parson League Cup semi-finals, losing 3-2 in extra time after being 2-0 ahead midway through the second half.
Liskeard’s game in hand comes on Friday night, a trip to local rivals Callington Town, who always offer a difficult 90 minutes on their own pitch.
After that, the teams’ last three fixtures are being played on the same dates next week, starting with home games against Holsworthy (for St Austell) and Wendron United (for Liskeard) on Monday, April 22.
St Austell have just beaten Holsworthy away so they will fancy their chances in the return; Liskeard have the trickier match against fourth-placed Wendron.
Moving on 48 hours to Wednesday, April 24, the Lillywhites face the short trip to St Dennis while Liskeard have to travel to Holsworthy.
And finally, on Saturday April 27, St Austell complete their league fixtures away to Truro City Reserves while Liskeard are at home to Mullion.
So where will Phil Hiscox and his Peninsula League helicopter be heading to present the trophy?
If I was a betting man, I’d have to say St Austell are the slight favourites. Their most difficult fixture appears to be Dobwalls away – I can see them winning their last three.
They have had their injury headaches but seem to have most of their squad available for the crunch games. Their form, which took a dip leading up to Easter, appears to have returned.
A full strength Liskeard would be expected to beat St Dennis, Callington, Holsworthy and Mullion. Prising three points out of Wendron might be the most difficult task.
But injuries and a key suspension will affect the Blues. Captain and set piece specialist Max Gilbert misses three games – Callington, Wendron and Holsworthy – after being sent off against Newquay last Thursday.
Young midfieid ace Harry Jeffery won’t play again this season after breaking the metatarsal bone in his right foot against Newquay at Lux Park, while centre half Dylan Peel limped out of Saturday’s game at Mount Wise after only five minutes with a hamstring strain.
I’ve heard it said that Liskeard don’t want to win the title because they can’t afford to play in the Western League. You have to say that’s nonsense with a man like Darren Gilbert in charge of the team.
I’ve watched a lot of both teams this season and they are giving it their all from what I can see. Credit to both teams for providing such a tight title race in a season which was close to being ruined by the relentless rain.
KJM SPORTS 