Western League Premier Division preview – Saturday, February 15

ST BLAZEY will look to build on the momentum produced by their shock victory over leaders Clevedon Town when they welcome Brislington tomorrow (3pm).

The Green and Blacks moved to within three points of third from bottom Ilfracombe Town thanks to Callum McGhee’s late penalty and will back themselves to build on that.

Brislington arrive in Cornwall in 15th place on 35 points and have games in-hand on the sides above them.

But if Blazey are to avoid finishing in the bottom two, these are the games they need to get points from.

Clevedon will look to bounce back when they visit in-form Torpoint Athletic.

The Point picked up a deserved draw at play-off chasing Buckland Athletic last weekend following their 4-0 success over Barnstaple Town, and sit seven points clear of Blazey, albeit having played twice more.

They visited Clevedon in January where they were beaten 4-1, but will hope to cause plenty of problems at The Mill.

Saltash United put five past Bridgwater United last Saturday in a dominant display and the Ashes will aim to continue that momentum when they host mid-table Paulton Rovers.

Macca Brown’s men are six points adrift of Ivybridge Town in tenth and reaching mid-table would be a fine achievement after a slow start to the season.

St Austell’s foray into Western League football after winning the SWPL Premier West crown last term has gone swimmingly after a tough opening couple of months.

They sit in 11th, three points behind Ivybridge, and remarkably just nine points shy of Barnstaple Town in the final play-off place.

But their immediate goal with ten games to go will be to finish in the top half and see how high they can go, starting with tomorrow’s trip to Portishead Town.

Town are second, two points behind Clevedon with a game in-hand and have already scored 74 goals from just 26 outings at nearly three a game.

Saints have had an okay time of it on the road, winning five of their 14 away trips, but will need to be at their best to stop a side that have won nine and drawn one of their 11 home games.

Fixtures (3pm): Barnstaple Town v Street, Buckland Athletic v Nailsea and Tickenham, Ilfracombe Town v Brixham, Ivybridge Town v Wellington, Portishead Town v St Austell, Saltash United v Paulton Rovers, Shepton Mallet v Bridgwater United, St Blazey v Brislington, Torpoint Athletic v Clevedon Town.