Season drawing to nail-biting finish

The final Saturday, the final shootout and three out of the four league matches scheduled having an impact on who reaches the playoffs and who goes down from the Strathmore and Perthshire North East Championship – it makes for a nail-biting end to the season.

The only match which could have the dead-rubber tag is at Lochlands, where Arbroath United finish up a respectable season taking on title winners Forthill, whose victory over Kinloch secured the league for the first time since 1940.

Forthill will decline to go on to contest the play-offs, however, so it will be between Arrowdawn Gordonians and Meigle to see who turns out at Freuchie the following week to attempt to make the step up.

Meigle have to win when Rossie Priory come to Victory Park, and hope that Arrowdawn Gordonians collect only six points or less at Dalnacraig against Dundee HSFP.

Neither play-off contender managed to strike a league blow due to weather conditions last Saturday, but Meigle’s match against Rossie has now taken on an added significance.

If they keep Rossie to minimum points and Kinloch win at home against Perth Doo’cot the calculators will be much in evidence, but there is a chance Kinloch could survive.

Kinloch will have to produce a massive effort.

Much will rest on the shoulders of Prashant Wig, who has been the most consistent performer with bat and ball all season.

But with Perth in a comfortable mid-table slot, the incentive is all with the home side.

If indeed Rossie are denied many points at Meigle and Kinloch win, all is not over at the rump end of the table, however, as whoever goes into the play-offs will also carry the hopes of the bottom side in the league. If either Arrowdawn Gordonians or Meigle are successful in the play-offs, there is unlikely to be any relegation.