Carnegie’ s rallying call to struggling Arbroath

Arbroath captain Bryce Carnegie has issued a rallying cry to his relegation-threatened troops ahead of a crucial Eastern Premier Cricket League clash against Watsonians.

The Lochlands side, with just two victories all season, have just three matches remaining to save their topflight status and may need to win all three to have a chance of staying up.

Ahead of the visit of the Myreside men, Carnegie said: “I’m really hoping the guys have the belief to go out and produce the goods I know they are capable of.

“These three games are probably the most important a lot of this team have played in but I back all of their abilities. All three of our remaining games are ones we can win.”

Arbroath are without South African professional Wihan Lubbe who has returned home but Lubbe’s countryman JJ Lesolang makes his home debut.

The Lochlands side are boosted by the return of Marc Petrie while Craig Ross and Matty Salmond are promoted after impressing in the second eleven.

Arbroath will have to curb the batting threat of Oli Hairs and Michael Carson who both scored centuries in last week’s big win over Falkland, the former having overtaken Forfarshire’s Craig Wallace as the division’s leading run scorer.

Falkland are still not out of danger and the Fifers, on a run of four straight defeats, must bounce back from their Myreside mauling when they welcome Stewart’s Melville to Scroggie Park.

Charles Cassell, the division’s joint leading wicket-taker, will have a key role to play.

At the other end of the table, Forfarshire’s title hopes came to an end with defeat at champions-elect Heriot’s last Saturday, but the Forthill side still have an exciting end to the season in prospect.

Scott Cameron’s side bounced back from their Goldenacre defeat to reach the Scottish Cup final with victory over Watsonians 24 hours later while they can also look forward to CS T20 finals day on August 21.

The priority for now, though, is to finish as high in the table as possible and Shire can go a long way to clinching second place when they entertain thirdtop Grange this afternoon.

Both sides will be missing key players for the game, with Forthill duo Michael Leask and Craig Wallace on Scotland duty along with Grange’s all-rounder Chris Greaves.

Heriot’s will be crowned champions if they take at least five points from their visit to Carlton, while Stoneywood-Dyce entertain RH Corstorphine.