FARNWORTH and Westhoughton face a possibly pivotal test of their title credentials tomorrow when the pair go head to head at St George’s Oval.
Westhoughton go into the game one point and one place better off than Farnworth in the Bolton League table and 12 points adrift of leaders Farnworth Social Circle.
With just seven games to play, victory could all but see off the challenge of Farnworth, while keeping up the pressure on Social Circle and second-placed Bradshaw, who are nine points off the top spot.
Yet any slip-ups and it could be Simon Booth’s Lavender Road mob who are suddenly catapulted into serious contention.
Farnworth are a side in transition after captain David Morris left in the close season for Egerton.
Booth went into the campaign with few expectations, other than to knit together a team capable of competing for honours in the future.
Yet with a game at home to Social Circle on the horizon next weekend, back-to-back victories would suddenly put them right in the mix to claim a surprise title.
If they are not successful at Westhoughton, last season’s Hamer Cup winners could still assume the role of kingmaker as the only one of the top four teams due to play every one of their rivals before the end of the season.
The rescheduling of matches abandoned earlier on in the season will see Farnworth take on Bradshaw in the penultimate Sunday of the campaign, meaning they could make or break Saeed Anwar Jnr’s dream of becoming a title winner in his first season as captain at The Rigby’s.
There are still plenty of ifs, buts and maybes, but one thing is for sure, if Social Circle can remain unbeaten in their final seven games they will be champions.
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