PREVIEW | THE FINAL WEEKEND

A look at what's still to play for as the League campaign comes to an end on Saturday

Well, here we are, the final weekend of the regular season and there are still two titles to be decided plus play-off and relegation places to be confirmed. Hold on tight for an exciting Saturday afternoon!

It would be unfair for us to pick a Game of the Day from each division as we usually do, so instead here’s a round-up of all the games that matter.

Starting in the Pitching In Southern League Premier South where the destination of the title has already been determined with Merthyr Town taking top spot.

Three of the four play-off spots have also been decided with AFC Totton joined by Walton & Hersham and Gloucester City. The final play-off place is a straight battle between Dorchester Town, who currently sit fifth, and Havant & Waterlooville, who are just one point behind them.

Dorchester Town head to a Hungerford Town outfit who have had a solid campaign and go into the game in seventh place in the table. Meanwhile Havant & Waterlooville host the team sitting eighth, Wimborne Town, who have adapted well to the higher level following promotion at the end of last term.

There are two of the four relegation places still to be confirmed. Marlow and Frome Town have had their fate sealed, but above them, there are seven teams battling it out for survival. Currently occupying the last two relegation places are Tiverton Town and Swindon Supermarine.

A home game against Marlow awaits Tiverton Town, whilst Swindon Supermarine head to Walton & Hersham. Two teams sit a point above the relegation places, Winchester City and Basingstoke Town. It’s a home encounter for both as Winchester City take on Taunton Town and Basingstoke Town welcome the Champions, Merthyr Town.

Just a point above them lie Poole Town and Bracknell Town. For Poole, they host a Chertsey Town outfit who, despite going into the weekend nine places off the bottom, could still get dragged into it should results go against them. Meanwhile Bracknell have a new manager at the helm in Jordan Ive and his first task is a trip to mid-table Sholing.

Into the Pitching In Southern League Premier Central and it’s now a two-horse race for the title. Bedford Town are currently in pole position and they have home advantage against a Stourbridge side who have just missed out on the play-offs. In second place, Kettering Town host a mid-table Banbury United who have been solid defensively this season.

Three of the four play-off places are decided with whoever misses out on the title joined by AFC Telford United and Halesowen Town. The fourth and final place is still up for grabs with Harborough Town currently holding on to it. They head to AFC Sudbury whose late season form managed to pull them clear of any relegation danger. Level on points with Harborough Town but with a worse goal difference are Stamford AFC, who host Halesowen Town at the weekend. Just a couple of points behind them are Stratford Town, who go to St. Ives Town, who could still go down but their goal difference is likely to help them, and also still in the play-off running should results go in their favour are Spalding United who face a trip to Barwell, which leads us nicely onto the relegation scenario.

Three of the four places are already done and dusted with Biggleswade Town, Hitchin Town and Lowestoft Town relegated. There are four clubs battling to avoid that one place, which is currently occupied by the aforementioned Barwell. Redditch United sit just above them by the slightest of margins and they host Hitchin Town. Also still in danger are Bishop’s Stortford who head to Bromsgrove Sporting, and St. Ives Town as already mentioned.

The second title to be decided comes in the Pitching In Southern League Division One South where Yate Town lost top spot briefly before going back there on Monday. They are at home to mid-table Didcot Town on Saturday, whilst their challengers for the crown, Evesham United, host a Bashley outfit who find themselves in the bottom half of the table.

Two of the four play-off places are confirmed with whoever fails to take the tile joining Bishops Cleeve. Behind them, four clubs are involved in the race for the two other spots. In situ at the moment are Malvern Town, who host Willand Rovers, and Mousehole, who will be seeking an upturn in fortunes as they go to Melksham Town who are eighth in the table.

Waiting for any slip-ups are Exmouth Town, who go to a Larkhall Athletic outfit who sit just outside the bottom four, and Bemerton Heath Harlequins who play host to already-relegated Cinderford Town.

Joining Cinderford Town in suffering relegation are Cribbs and Thatcham Town, whilst it would need a massive shift in goal difference for Helston Athletic to stand any chance of escaping the bottom four at the expense of Larkhall Athletic. Sadly, for the Cornish outfit, that is highly unlikely to happen as they end their campaign at home to Bristol Manor Farm, for whom manager, Lee Lashenko, bows out after 12 years at the helm.

Finally, into the Pitching In Southern League Division One Central where the Champions are Real Bedford. Three of the four play-off places are also confirmed with Berkhamsted being joined by Flackwell Heath and Barton Rovers.

The favourites to hold on to the final place are Hadley. They go to Leighton Town on Saturday knowing that a point would be go enough to see them over the line and even if they lost and nearest challengers, Thame United, won at home to Real Bedford, goal difference would play a part in Hadley’s favour.

At the bottom, two of the three relegation places are confirmed with Kidlington joining North Leigh. Three teams could still take the final spot. Leverstock Green are in it at the moment and they head to AFC Dunstable knowing that they have to win, whilst Northwood also hit the road with a tricky trip to Barton Rovers. For Kings Langley, all they can do is hope that Leverstock Green fail to win as they have already ended their season.

Let the drama begin...

IMAGE: RB Media