Western League Premier Division preview – Saturday, September 26

ALL eyes will be on Blaise Park tomorrow afternoon as unbeaten St Blazey host leaders Bridgwater United (3pm) in a huge clash at the top of the table.

Bridgy head to Cornwall seven points clear of their opponents, albeit having played twice more, following a 2-0 midweek victory over Shepton Mallet, while Blazey will look to bounce back from successive draws with Torpoint Athletic and Sidmouth Town.

Blazey missed a host of second half chances in East Devon in a goalless stalemate and will be without skipper Will Tinsley following his controversial red card at Manstone Lane.

Bridgwater have lost once in nine starts but have won seven. Anybody who finishes above them will surely win the title.

Blazey could end the day level with Clevedon and Liskeard. Clevedon have parted ways with managers Nic Steadman and Jamie Smith this week, while the Blues, who have seven wins and four defeats from their 11 outings, have the weekend off.

Saltash United are sixth, outside of the play-off places on goal difference and welcome ever-improving Sidmouth to Kimberley Stadium.

The Ashes were beaten 1-0 at Brixham last Saturday, a scoreline which would have been far worse had it not been for a fine performance from goalkeeper Jordan Duffey, while the Vikings arrive having picked up seven points from their last nine.

Saltash will need to be wary of Sidmouth’s tricky forwards and excellent set-pieces if they are to come out on top.

Torpoint are starting to get their house in order following an indifferent start to the season.

Last year’s play-off finalists have secured highly-impressive draws recently at two of the sides expected to be in the title race come the end in St Blazey and Portishead, and are on their travels once again as they go to mid-table Shepton Mallet who are a tough nut to crack in Somerset, as shown by beating Bridgwater recently.

Newquay earned an impressive 3-1 win at Street last Saturday courtesy of goals from Tom Shepherd, Louis Price and Tim Nixon, the latter his first league goal for the Peppermints having joined over the summer, and they start huge favourites against a Wellington side in transition.

They have lost every game so far, but have shown marginal sides of improvement recently before a 9-1 thrashing by Bridgwater last weekend.

Fixtures (3pm): Brislington v Brixham, Clevedon Town v Bovey Tracey, Ivybridge Town v Portishead Town, Newquay v Wellington, Saltash United v Sidmouth Town, Shepton Mallet v Torpoint Athletic, St Blazey v Bridgwater United, Street v Buckland Athletic, Tavistock v Wells City.