Home points key to Celts survival

1:11pm Thursday 17th April 2008

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The rewards for staying in the Blue Square Premier are obvious and nerves appear to have got to the five clubs battling to maintain their status.

Going into the weekend, Northwich and Halifax are currently in the drop zone. However, the situation is so tight that fifth-bottom Farsley are just a point above the trapdoor, while Altrincham and Weymouth are also very much in the mix as just three points separate the five clubs.

Altrincham have played a game more than the other four, so they have just six points to play for, while Farsley and the rest have nine. Saturday's home game against Forest Green is followed by a midweek trip to York, before the league concludes a week on Saturday with a visit from Grays Athletic.

"We have to take six points from our last two home games and if we do we will be safe - but who knows what the squad will be," said manager John Deacey after Tuesday's fruitless trip to Ebbsfleet.

Midfielder Dominic Krief picked up his tenth yellow card of the season and will be suspended, while James Knowles will also be sidelined after an unsuccessful appeal against his sending off for a professional foul at Oxford in the previous game.

The problem position is centre back, with club captain Ryan Crossley (back), vice-skipper Amjad Iqbal (hamstring) and Mark Jackson (broken ankle) all out and Georges Santos doubtful after coming off just 25 minutes into the game at Ebbsfleet.

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