Two huge games in the space of five days will shape Holbeach United’s season.
That’s the verdict of player/boss Tom Roberts, who accepts that his Tigers won’t pick up any silverware if they don’t deliver in either match.
Wins in Saturday’s trip to UCL Premier Division title rivals Leicester Nirvana (3pm) and this Wednesday night’s rearranged ChromaSport UCL KO Cup quarter-final with Boston Town at Carter’s Park (7.45pm) could put Holbeach on track for a famous double.
But defeats would deal a critical blow to their campaign – and Roberts knows their season would essentially be over by 9pm on Wednesday if the worst was to happen.
Whatever the result on Wednesday, the fourth-placed Tigers will travel to Leicester in a positive mood after last weekend’s impressive 5-1 victory at Cogenhoe United.
Roberts will also have a strong squad at his disposal, with striker Tommy Treacher and defender Stacy Cartwright back in the fold.
“We’re still in the title race,” said the Holbeach chief, who may have to play in goal in both games. “We’ll have to see where we stand after the Nirvana game.
“But it’s very much a case of us having two games to keep our season alive. If we can beat Boston and Nirvana, we’re in the hunt for trophies. If we lose both, there’s not a lot left for us to play for.
“We know what to expect from Nirvana, they were a very good side last year and that’s still the case now. We’ve also got them twice in ten days, so it’s really the business end of the season now.
“If we can go there and play like we did at Cogenhoe, I’m confident we can get a result.
“Hopefully we’ll travel with another strong squad and we are able to do ourselves justice.”
Meanwhile, Holbeach have received a small boost with the news that their game at Rothwell Corinthians must be replayed.
The match on February 23 was abandoned on 71 minutes due to an injury to left back Nick Jackson, with a nasty leg injury feared.
The Tigers were trailing 4-1 at the time and it had been expected that the hosts would be granted the three points.
But the Lincolnshire FA and Northamptonshire FA found neither team guilty of causing the abandonment and that match has now rescheduled for April 26 (7.45pm).
Roberts admits that it’s a timely boost for his side, but added that they wouldn’t have argued if the points had been awarded to Rothwell.
He added: “I suppose it’s a mini bonus for us given the score was 4-1.
“But this decision had nothing to do with us, it was down the respective FAs and the league. I’m sure Rothwell won’t be pleased – and we wouldn’t have complained if the decision had gone the other way.”
Defender Jackson, whose leg injury turned out to be a less severe calf problem, should return before the end of the season.
Holbeach go into Saturday’s game 13 points behind leaders Nirvana with four games in hand, but they are also 11 points behind second-placed Kempston Rovers with just one game in hand.
