Holyport still in the mix as play-off race heats up
Four teams are competing for the final two play-off spots in the Combined Counties Premier Division North this week, with Holyport still in with an outside chance of finishing in the top five.
A hectic final few weeks of the season sees just one point separate Reading City in fourth, Burnham in fifth and Holyport in sixth, however, Reading and Burnham do still have a game in hand on Sam Lock's side.
It may be that Holyport just fall short in what's been an incredible effort to claim a top five finish, however, that doesn't diminish the form they've shown over the second half of the season, with Lock's side moving up from 14th, with 15 points on December 1, to sixth, with 58 points heading into their final game at Ardley United on Saturday. They've been desperately fending off the likes of Reading City over the past few weeks, but it looks like the Cityzens may have enough games in hand to get over the line.
They edged out Burnham 1-0 on Tuesday, before drawing 2-2 at home with Broadfields United on Wednesday.
City were set to host Hilltop last night (Thursday) before welcoming Edgware & Kingsbury to Scours Lane for their final game on Saturday (April 27).
Burnham, meanwhile, will visit Wokingham & Emmbrook on Saturday and will then know what they need to do when they visit Hilltop on Tuesday evening for their final game of the season.
Lock's Holyport now know they simply have to win on Saturday and hope that other results go their way in the coming days.
They've done their part in recent weeks by going on a sensational late surge up the table. They took their tally of wins for the season to 18 with Tuesday's 4-2 home win over Risborough Rangers.
Goals from Hoath and Kickie Dzimba gave them breathing space in the first half-hour before Leo Carvahlo-Pedro scored on the stroke of half-time to put the result beyond all doubt. Dzimba slammed home a fourth in the 55th minute before they took their foot off the gas and allowed Risborough to score two consolations.
Looking ahead to Saturday's final fixture, Lock said: “To go into the final day of our season on Saturday with a chance of the play offs is a monumental achievement. With extremely limited resources. No playing budget. We have turned a group of kids into men and WINNERS.”
Speaking with Jay Harvey after Tuesday's win, Carvahlo-Pedro, said: “We'll take it. I think we've been very underestimated the whole year. Being in the position we're in now is truly, truly great.”
Dzimba added: “We've tried to make it hard for teams to come here and pick up three points. We haven't dropped many points at home and that's why we call it fortress Summerleaze. In front of our own fans, it's nice to finish the season with three points and a win. Onto Saturday now.”
With the games they have in hand, North Greenford United could also still claim one of the division's play-off places. They're seventh on 53 points from 35 matches.