EVER-IMPROVING St Austell return to Western League action on Saturday after missing last weekend’s home clash with Shepton Mallet due to Storm Bert.

Chris Knight’s side have put together four wins in their last five league matches to pull away from trouble, and can now set their sights on tying to chase down top half in the coming weeks.

They maybe eight points adrift of tenth-placed Ivybridge who came up with them from the SWPL last season, but with the likes of Adam Carter now back from injury and the excitement provided by Kieron Bishop and Ryan Downing down the flanks, there’s a real attacking threat.

The first of those pre-Christmas tasks, which culminates with a local derby at St Blazey on Boxing Day, sees them visit mid-table Paulton Rovers on Saturday.

The Saints won their last away outing – a 3-0 success at Nailsea and Tickenham – and have plenty of miles to clock up.

Saturday, December 7 sees them go to Bristol to tackle Oldland Abbotonians, before the relatively short trip by this league’s standards to Wellington near Taunton a week later.

The only home game in December is on the 21st when they entertain current leaders Brixham.

St Blazey could be in for a battle with Torpoint Athletic to avoid the drop, but both have games in-hand on Ilfracombe Town who are five points clear of the Green and Blacks.

Blazey have five games left this year starting with two tough trips as they go to Shepton Mallet and then Street.

Ilfracombe are the visitors on December 14 for a crucial clash before St Blazey’s final outing before Christmas sees them head to last year’s play-off finalists Clevedon Town.

If Blazey can pick up some reward in the coming games then it’ll give them a fighting chance heading into the rest of the season.