TRENTHAM v DOUGLAS

  Douglas travel to Trentham this weekend for their final league fixture. With in excess of thirty travelling and a game also between the mutual second teams it really is a mini tour for the club but at stake is club pride as both clubs lie mid table but if Douglas win they will exchange position with Trentham in the final league placings.

  At times this season Douglas have been about as consistent as the Wets Indian batting line up. On their good days they have been very good but unfortunately they really have not have enough of these. On Saturday they will hope to see out the league season in style both on and off the pitch and they do travel at reasonable strength. The only regulars missing this week being John Ledwidge who is injured, Pete Moorhouse who is absent taking exams and captain Andy Malpass who begins yet another marathon holiday such that I think he is expected to be back briefly for the start of the next season.

  Trentham’s form has picked up as the season as the season has progressed. At Christmas they looked as if they might become embroiled in a relegation battle but their form since the new year has been good and they are now comfortably in mid table. They did though have a heavy defeat last week to Wallasey and hopefully this and the heavy defeat they suffered at Douglas ’s hands earlier in the year will have dented the heir confidence.

  Home advantage should favour Trentham but I have an inkling that provided Douglas travel well and remember not to start imbibing prior to the match they can snatch the points. In away matches the travelling aspect is often a key and especially in this fixture as the trip to Trentham is a long one which generally requires the overnight stay. This weekend it may prove to be specially crucial as at the time of writing a problem with the coach booking (not) has arisen. I am sworn to secrecy which normally reliable, talented, skillfull, witty, and handsome member of the club overlooked this but if Douglas are forced to start with the best fifteen hitch hikers which would be a novel way of selecting a side.

Gethin  Taylor