NERVY END LOOMS AT TOP AND BOTTOM OF SENIOR LEAGUE

There are just two more scheduled weekends left in the domestic cricket season and much could well depend on ongoing action certainly at the business end of the Division 1 title race. With Brigade due to be currently hosting Limavady in their T20 re-arranged match a win for the visitors would leave them very hot favourites to go on and claim the title whereas the picture would change dramatically if the hosts could pick up the points. At the bottom it looks a long way back now for Eglinton but with three games still to play, Andy Christie's side have an opportunity yet to save themselves from the drop. The following then is what we have in store on the penultimate weekend-

BONDS GLEN V STRABANE

There was some uncertainty over this one at the time of going to press; Strabane's Ciaran Patton is getting married on Friday and the champions had requested a free date from the start of the season however the home side are committed to a charity tournament at the Rectory on Sunday. The Bee Gees will be cock-a-hoop after their win against Eglinton that has given them an excellent opportunity of surviving the drop but with the bottom pair still having three games each left to play, Gary Hamilton's men can take nothing for granted. Much will depend on when the match is played; Saturday would probably mean that Strabane would not be at full strength but with the Red Caps now out of the running for the title they would probably have used the opportunity to give the likes of Aaron Gillespie a run in the first team in any case. The game is anything other than end-of-season for either side of course and the hosts know that one more win would all but ensure another term at least in the top flight. I wouldn't like to call this until the team lists are swapped.

COLERAINE V DONEMANA

There's probably not a lot at stake here other than pride but both sides obviously want to finish off as well as they can and it could subsequently turn out to be a decent game. The Bannsiders have been threatening a performance like their win over Fox Lodge last week and are reaping the benefits of sticking with their young settled side at this level. They looked in good shape against Donemana at various times during their league and cup double header earlier in the summer before losing out to the experience of the McBrine twins but they've improved as a unit since then. Even without their professional Mohammad Salman Coleraine have managed to strike the right balance and there looks sure to be better times ahead.

Donemana's season seemed to turn on that short space of time when everything seemed to go against them; the under-19 qualifiers robbing them of Hunter and McBrine, the cup final defeat and the saga over their game at Limavady. You know what you get with Donemana of course so there could well be some late resistance in the Holm side's locker, particularly since they finish their campaign at home to title seeking Brigade next weekend. Home advantage might well allow Coleraine to claim a big scalp here.

EGLINTON V BRIGADE

Contrary to the match above there is no mistaking the importance of this clash as the villagers now desperately try to carve out a win from one of their final three games. That defeat at the Glen on Sunday will have hurt, both in terms of the relegation issue and also in the manner of it but it's far from beyond the realms of possibility that they can salvage their situation. The problem for Andy Christie is that his team's demeanour was all wrong and the Bee Gees cruelly exposed that shattered confidence. They have good players in Chris Pierce, Richard Wylie, Johnny Gardiner, Neal and Richard Stewart and of course professional Butterworth, but without the correct approach they look woefully short.

To make matters worse they come face to face with a Brigade team that needs to win and that really is pivotal. Mark Simpson's side has a bowling attack capable of blowing away any opposition at this level and they will be fully focused on the job in hand. Eglinton need to bat better than they have all season and give themselves a chance of bowling Brigade out because if they don't, the Beechgrove boys will mop them up. Form screams away win but its all about who fancies it more in these types of games.

FOX LODGE V GLENDERMOTT

Two teams on a recovery mission meet at Ballymagorry with the hosts looking to put their mauling at Coleraine behind them while the visitors have really struggled in their last couple of games. Stephen Smyth is believed to have parted company with the Rectory side after a somewhat indifferent season by his own high standards and it isn't difficult to see the club looking to get to the end of the season and a chance to regroup. Glendermott seemed to struggle to even field a full side last weekend and nine, ten and jack looked to be names in a hat however skipper Gordon Montgomery will no doubt be looking for a little pride.

The Foxies too looked to be in holiday mode down the Atlantic coast but with skipper Brian Allen likely to have returned from honeymoon you would expect a better effort here. They have been slightly disappointing this summer and would probably admit as much themselves and this is a side capable of much better. Despite the fact that the points have little value at either end of the table, the hosts should be too strong at home.

LIMAVADY V BREADY

Three wins in their final games would be enough to see Andrew Riddles stepping up to collect the Billy Henderson Properties championship but despite matters being in their own hands you could easily reason that this game against the senior cup holders is the easiest of the trio. Trips to Beechgrove and Strabane Park will then dictate Limavady's title hopes but they would do well to keep the focus pinned on this one for now. Limavady have done remarkably well to lead the way going into the final fortnight having lost both Des Curry and professional Adnan Akmal for the run-in and they have plenty of players with the experience of the big occasion. It is imperative that they do have the remainder of the squad available for this one however and that includes Stuart Thompson who has been on Ireland “A” duty.

Bready are the epitome of inconsistency at the minute and last weekend summed up their league campaign when Donemana thumped them at the Holm on Saturday and they then did the same back to Richard Kee's men on Sunday. Their batting can be one thing or another; explosive one day and imploding the next so realistically it could depend on which Bready turns up. There's so much at stake however that only cup final Bready would prevent a home win.