Time to stand up and be counted

3:19pm Thursday 17th April 2008

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Otley skipper Ian Shuttleworth is looking to his more experienced troops to deliver the goods on Saturday.

The leaders need to beat Blackheath at Cross Green to clinch promotion back to National League One.

But if second-placed Manchester, who are a point behind, defeat visitors Cambridge, then any chance of Otley lifting the National League Two trophy must wait until the last round of fixtures a week on Saturday.

Any slip-ups by Otley or Manchester could bring third-placed Stourbridge, who are six points behind the Cross Greeners, back into the equation.

Shuttleworth said of the mood in the Otley camp this week: "It is very positive, coming on the back of our 47-22 win at Cambridge.

"That is not an easy place to go as they had only lost one at home all season and it was probably our best performance of the season from a team point of view."

Shuttleworth added: "We know that if we get the result that we desire then we will get promotion, and we need to approach Saturday's game with the same attitude that we have approached every game this season.

"We are looking to our more experienced players for a lead and to guide the younger players and we will, as usual, play for each other.

"We aren't a club that is blessed with a lot of money so we have had to work for everything we have achieved. But National League Two has been a tough campaign without any easy games."

Otley have delayed selection but Shuttleworth said: "As far as I am aware, we will be picking from strength."