CAPEL Plough player-manager Pat Tynan admits that it is crunch time when his second-placed side play leaders Grundisburgh in the Senior Division of the Metaltec SIL tomorrow.

Elvin King

CAPEL Plough player-manager Pat Tynan admits that it is crunch time when his second-placed side play leaders Grundisburgh in the Senior Division of the Metaltec SIL tomorrow.

Tynan's side have lost just three league games in their last 54 outings but an abundance of draws saw them miss out on the title to Brantham by one goal last season.

“We finished third the year before, and it would be great to keep the improvement going this season,” said Tynan.

“There might perhaps be one more year left in this side -- so it is important that we make it count this time.

“Tomorrow will give us a bit of a dilemma as we dare not lose, but need to win. It is the crunch game that could well decide the title.”

With Crane Sports dropping a few points recently it is now a two-horse race with both Grundisburgh and Capel having five games left - and the former four points better off.

Capel have to play Crane twice, and also bottom club Stonham Aspal and mid-table Woodbridge Athletic, and they received a boost this week with Gary Collins coming through a training session and he will be on the bench tomorrow.

“We dropped two points in a draw at East Bergholt on Monday,” added Tynan. “It was a typical derby and they are rarely great games although we had chances.

“That was a blow as was drawing against Stonham, but otherwise we have been doing okay despite not scoring enough goals.

“Jamie Sandilands has 15 and I am next with eight. Our next highest scorer is Miles Donovan who has notched four from central defence.

“We do not have anything like the player budget that Grundisburgh are reported to have, but that doesn't worry me as I enjoy it this way.”

Donovan is a doubt tomorrow after picking up a knock at Bergholt, and many of Capel's players will be playing their fifth game in a week.

“They play Sunday football and some helped out our reserves last night,” said Tynan. “But they love it.”

What is not so pleasing for Tynan is the re-arrangement of their Woodbridge Athletic game for the final Thursday of the season.

“The original game was abandoned because of a broken leg and the league has arranged it so that we play Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday, and not on the final Saturday,” explained Tynan.

“Grundisburgh only have Saturday to Saturday games as I understand it, and it would be unfair if they played their final game knowing exactly what they had to do.

“We have contacted the league to complain, and will not be happy if games are not changed.”

Elsewhere in the SIL, Stonham Reserves are relegated back to Intermediate B while Woodbridge Athletic Reserves confirmed promotion to Intermediate A with a 5-1 win over Thurston Reserves.

Great Blakenham have gained promotion from Division Four and will be champions if they beat nearest rivals Saxmundham tomorrow.

Aldeburgh Town's 3-2 win at already-promoted Tattingstone confirmed their promotion from Division Five, and they will be champions if they win their remaining two games.

Unless Sproughton Reserves lose by 40 clear goals tomorrow Shotley will finish bottom of Division Six for the second consecutive season.