Saints treating each game as a cup final

St Lawrence & Highland Court captain Will Hilton says that his team have got “four cup finals left” as they approach the business end of the season, with promotion to Division 1 the sole aim, writes JOE EVES.

Saints have twice missed out on promotion to the first division in consecutive years but they know what they have to do to get over the line this time.

Hilton said: “If we win all our games, then we will get promoted. We’ve probably got a tougher run of fixtures than Bromley Common, who are above us. We have got to go to Upchurch which definitely won’t be easy but it’s in our hands.”

Saints remain in third place after a 53-run home win over Ashford Town on Saturday and Hilton added: “It was nice to get back on track after last week’s defeat to Bickey Park (the leaders).

“I wouldn’t have said that it was our best performance but the win was the most important thing.

“We were in a little bit of trouble at 50-3 but it was pleasing to see the middle order show some character.

“James Widerstrom, Lewis Jenkins and I all got starts then got out, it would have been good to see one of us go on and make a big score but it wasn’t to be.

“It was probably a wicket where we should have got 250-plus but 220 was competitive.”

In reply, Liam Tegg made 92 for Ashford but only one other player could make it to double figures as they fell short on 167.

Hilton said: “Tegg batted well but I was happy with the way our bowlers performed, especially Dylan Emmett who took another three-fer.

“In the end, we tried to starve Tegg of the strike and just bowl at the other batsmen and the plan worked as he ran himself out.”

Saints sit three points behind Bromley Common, with the teams scheduled to meet on the last day of the season but Hilton said he didn’t want to look too far ahead with the Shrimps facing Hythe, who sit at the foot of the table, on Saturday.

Hilton said: “It’s another big game for us. They have to win and you never know what can happen in these sort of games.

“Every team in this league has at least one player that can win a game on their own and Hythe are no different. We won’t be undrestimating them.”