All ifs and buts in Premier title drama

THE destiny of the Premier Division title in the South Yorkshire League could be decided this weekend - if not then it could well see a last day showdown the following week between the top two.

With just two weekends left, Elsecar go into this last stretch with a two point advantage over long-time leaders Hallam - and these are the teams scheduled to meet on the final day.

However, it will be all over tomorrow if Elsecar get a maximum (seven points) win over Shiregreen and Hallam get less than two points at third-placed Whitley Hall.

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Should Hallam get two points tomorrow then it would all hinge on their clash with Elsecar on the final day, September 15.

The other scenario is Elsecar failing to get the full seven points tomorrow and taking five or less and the title would be up for grabs on the last day with possibly Whitley Hall and even Treeton still in the mix as well as Hallam.

With the title so close, it is extremely unlikely that Elsecar will mess things up at home to Shiregreen who stand three points above Rockingham who are in the second relegation spot.

Whitley Hall know they must beat Hallam and take the full seven points if they are to retain their slim chance of finishing on top a week on Saturday. If Whitley do bag seven points at Hallam’s expense then they jump above them by a point - however, the statisticians will work out that Whitley would only then have a title chance should Elsecar get less than seven points on Saturday.

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Elsecar skipper Tim Farmer will want to put all the complications to bed by securing the full seven points this weekend and then hope Hallam get no more than one point - if that happens, their 15th league crown will be on its way to Armroyd Lane.

In the relegation scrap it’s two from three with Norton Oakes (26pts) knowing they must win their final two games, starting against Wath on Saturday, to have any chance of staying up.

Second-bottom Rockingham (31pts) have a difficult finish and will almost certainly need at least one win out of their trip to Treeton or the final home game against Wickersley.

Shiregreen (34pts) follow up their visit to Elsecar with a home game against Collegiate on the last day.

Hallam try again in their Yorkshire Council Champion ship Play-off semi-final against Wrenthorpe. They play at Sandygate again on Sunday having been rained off last week.