THE Duke of Albany’s terrific 4-1 defeat of Premiership leaders the Belvedere has seen the Park Street boys storm back into the title race and they are sure to be in confident mood ahead of tomorrow’s clash with relegation-threatened Rail-way Tavern at Budmouth (10.30am).
The result was all the more impressive as the Duke were the first team to beat the Belve in the league this term and now sit just three points behind them but with a superior goal difference of +25.
Defenders Steve Steele and Jamie Spivey both return tomorrow to bolster the bench while Simon Ansell starts in place of the suspended Liam Miles.
Clinton Coltart keeps the number one jersey as regular keeper Anthony Luque recovers from an ankle injury but in-form Josh Burton is ruled out due to family commitments.
Player-manager Luke Tomlin said: “The lads were excellent last week but that result will mean nothing if we don’t pick up another three points tomorrow. There are only three games left so we need to keep the pressure on both the Belve and Britannia.”
After losing four players to injury last weekend AFC Black Dog’s Rob Pavey has problems ahead of his side’s clash with the Rodwell at the Marsh.
Definitely sidelined will be Dan Pickering, Stuart Dalley and Dan Manvell while doubts surround the fitness of Wayne Day, Ben Greenman, Lee Rockingham and Chris Howell.
However, the boss reports that Joe Djeebet, Alex Glover and Sean Stewart all come back in while hopes remain that Dean Richards and Dean Taylor will be available.
In the Championship, Chris Reader has work commitments and misses Galaxy Windows’ final league game with The Rock at the Grove but Bobby Jones is expected to deputise.
The Portlanders, who need just one point to guarantee third place, beat sixth-placed Rock 5-0 earlier in the campaign in what boss Andy Barber believed was their best performance of the season.
This week witnessed some stunning ties in both the Len Mahoney Cup and the Les Hallett Trophy.
The Kingswood stretched their winning streak to 12 games with a narrow 1-0 win over the Dorothy Inn. Steve Lambert got the winner for the Premiership outfit but the Dot will count themselves unfortunate having seen Chris Skinner denied by a brilliant save by Nick Gregg, Carl McClements hit the bar and Paul Aston shoot against a post. Simon Shapcott also struck the woodwork for the Wood.
In the other second round ties in the competition, Queens Park Venue stunned Championship table-toppers Chapelhay by beating them 2-1, while Britannia defeated the Railway Tavern 5-0 and the Rodwell progressed with a 2-1 success at the Punchbowl.
Meanwhile, in the Les Hallett Trophy, Tuatara booked their place in the last eight with a comprehensive 9-2 win over Championship strugglers the Old Castle.
Tom Grattidge secured his seventh hat-trick of the season while Andy Graham and Nick Preece both netted braces and James Robinson and Charlie Kenderdine added one apiece.
Elsewhere, the Belvedere and the George strolled through with 6-1 victories over the Golden Lion and the Rendezvous respectively, and there was also a welcome win for the Rock who overcame Clean Connections 2-0.
TOMORROW’S FIXTURES (all 10.30am)
Weymouth Sunday League Premiership: AFC Black Dog v Rodwell (Marsh), Duke of Albany v Railway Tavern (Budmouth), Lugger v George (Budmouth).
Championship: Dorothy v Old Castle (Budmouth), Galaxy Windows v Rock (Grove), Market House v Chapelhay (Marsh), Queens Park Venue v Alex (Marsh), Southill v Golden Lion (Marsh).
MIDWEEK CUP RESULTS
Len Mahoney Cup Second Round: Kingswood 1 Dorothy Inn 0, Queens Park Venue 2 Chapelhay 1, Britannia 5 Railway Tavern 0, Punchbowl 1 Rodwell 2.
Les Hallett Cup Second Round: Rendezvous 1 George 6, Belvedere 6 Golden Lion 1, Clean Connections 0 The Rock 2, Old Castle 2 Tuatara 9.
QUARTER-FINAL DRAWS (all to be played next week) Len Mahoney Cup: Lugger v Kingswood, Queens v Duke of Albany, Southill SC v George (Dorch), Britannia v Rodwell.
Les Hallett Cup: Market House v The Alex, Galaxy Windows v Belvedere, AFC Black Dog v Tuatara, The Rock v George (Port).
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