Post area football preview — Saturday, February 23

IT’S second bottom versus third bottom at Pennygillam tomorrow as Launceston welcome local rivals Camelford in a crucial clash in the Carlsberg South West Peninsula League.

Both sides have struggled with form, availability and in the home side’s case, the loss of players, meaning that they’ve won just nine games between them from a possible 51.

At present, the Camels are three points better off with 17 points from 28 games while Launceston — with five games in-hand — have 14 points with four victories to their name.

When the two sides met back in September, an Adam Sleep-inspired Camelford fought back in the most dramatic of circumstances to win 4-2 with the makeshift striker notching a hat-trick.

Callington Town will look to build on a positive performance — if not result at Exmouth Town last weekend when they entertain Elburton Villa at Ginsters Marshfield Parc (3pm).

Cally were pleased with their general play in East Devon but a lack of cutting edge and average defending meant the hosts went 3-0 up at the break before closing out the game in the second-half.

In Division One (West), Bude Town make the near four-hour round trip to Penzance looking to build on their brilliant 1-0 victory over Plymstock United last Saturday.

The Seasiders haven’t enjoyed the best of seasons but have started to find their feet once more in recent weeks and will hope that Scott Percy’s winner can inspire a sustained run of form over the final couple of months of the season, to avoid finishing in the bottom two.

Despite a three-week break, Holsworthy showed no signs of rustiness last weekend as they won 2-0 at strugglers St Blazey.

Liam Dart’s Magpies welcome fourth-placed St Dennis to Upcott Field looking to move to within six points of the Cornish club with four games in-hand.

There are just two teams in action from the Post area in the Mortgage Advice Bureau East Cornwall League.

In the Premier, Callington Town Reserves make the short trip down the A388 to their Saltash United counterparts while in Division One, St Minver entertain fellow coastal club Padstow United at Trewint Lane.

In the JJ Jones and Sons Duchy League Premier Division, Boscastle will hope for more of the same when they entertain St Dennis Reserves at Forabury Park. Last week Robin Haddy’s side won 5-3 at Gerrans and St Mawes United with Jordan Sleep netting a hat-trick.

League rivals North Petherwin secured a fabulous 1-0 success at Sticker Reserves last Saturday thanks to Mark Gribble. They’re at home this weekend when they welcome third-placed Torpoint Athletic.

Stoke Climsland are on course for back-to-back promotions into the Premier. They won 6-2 at Queens Rangers last Saturday and are at home to Holywell and Cubert. Other matches see bottom club North Hill travel to Tregrehan Mills, Gunnislake have a short trip to Saltash United thirds and St Breward entertain Queens Rangers.

Runaway Division Two leaders Altarnun have had a couple of weeks off but on paper it shouldn’t matter when they entertain struggling Pelynt tomorrow. Tintagel secured a good 2-2 draw at home to Lamerton Community last weekend and welcome Lanivet Inn to Butts Field. Gorran make the long trip to Lifton and St Minver Reserves go to their Foxhole Stars counterparts.

Southgate Seniors have completed just half of their 18 fixtures so far but return to action tomorrow with a home game against Pensilva Reserves.

With leaders Bude Town Reserves enjoying a weekend off, the rest of the teams have a chance to make some ground.

Bude will hope local rivals Week St Mary can pull off a surprise result at second-placed Nanpean Rovers, who are four points behind Bude with both sides having played 14 of their 22 games.

There’s a derby at Delabole as they welcome Boscastle Reserves. Both clubs are in excellent form at present and should provide a close contest.

The other game sees third-placed Lifton Reserves, who are 13 points off the top, go to their St Cleer counterparts.

With Bradworthy having a bye in the North Devon League Premier, Shebbear United are the highest ranked club in the Post area in that area.

They play in the Senior Division and are currently in mid-table, although a good run of results could see them finish in the top three. However they’ll be put to the test tomorrow when they welcome Boca Seniors Reserves, who have won 11 from 11 with a goal difference of plus 46.

Derbies are a theme throughout tomorrow with the North Devon League one taking place at Bridgerule as they welcome Holsworthy Reserves to Vinnicombe Park. Both sides are halfway up at present but have games in-hand.

One of the sides they will hope to catch is Kilkhampton. The Lamb Park outfit are third, five points ahead of Combe Martin who visit them tomorrow.

Barnstaple-based Equalizers are riding high at the top of Intermediate Two. They go to Morwenstow Reserves while Bridgerule Reserves are at struggling Hartland Community thirds.

In the fifth-tier (Intermediate Three), Ashwater and Bradworthy Reserves entertain Kingsley Wizards and Eastside respectively.

Both of Halwill’s Saturday sides were without a game in the Macron Devon and Exeter League last weekend and will be keen to kickstart their campaigns tomorrow.

The first team have a home date with Priory who the seconds thrashed 7-2 in the Bill Slee Cup recently, while the seconds have a trip to village club Feniton.

See next week’s Post for all the scores.

Saturday, February 23

Carlsberg South West Peninsula League

Premier Division (3pm)

Callington Town v Exmouth Town; Launceston v Camelford

Division One (West) (3pm)

Holsworthy v St Dennis; Penzance v Bude Town

Mortgage Advice Bureau East Cornwall League

Premier Division (2.30pm)

Saltash United v Callington Town

Division One (2.30pm)

St Minver v Padstow United

JJ Jones and Sons Duchy League

Premier Division (2.30pm)

Boscastle v St Dennis; North Petherwin v Torpoint Athletic

Division One

Saltash United v Gunnislake; St Breward v Queens Rangers; Stoke Climsland v Holywell and Cubert; Tregrehan Mills v North Hill

Division Two (2.30pm)

Altarnun v Pelynt; Foxhole Stars v St Minver; Lifton v Gorran; Tintagel v Lanivet Inn

Division Three (2.30pm)

Southgate Seniors v Pensilva

Division Four (2.30pm)

Delabole United v Boscastle; Nanpean Rovers v Week St Mary; St Cleer v Lifton

North Devon League

Senior Division (2.30pm)

Shebbear United v Boca Seniors

Intermediate One (2.30pm)

Bridgerule v Holsworthy; Kilkhampton v Combe Martin

Intermediate Two (2.30pm)

Hartland Clovelly v Bridgerule; Morwenstow v Equalizers

Intermediate Three (2.30pm)

Ashwater v Kingsley Wizards; Bradworthy v Eastside

Macron Devon and Exeter League

?Division Two (2.30pm)

Halwill v Priory

Division Four (2.30pm)

Feniton v Halwill