Flackwell Heath's title hopes on the line in make or break week

Flackwell Heath have moved into the make or break week of their season as they face title rivals Bracknell Town and Thame United away from home in the space of a few days.

The Heathens kept their promotion hopes with a hard-earned 1-0 win at Highworth Town on Saturday with Adam Dickens’ sweeping home the crucial second-half penalty. But, although manager Paul Shone is proud of his side’s eight game winning run in the league, he knows it will count for very little if Flackwell are unable to pick up points at Bracknell this afternoon (Saturday).

The Heathens, who moved back on top of the table by a point from Mark Tallentire’s Robins, have played three more matches than Bracknell, and two more than Thame – also a point behind – meaning nothing short of four points from the two matches will surely end their title dream.

“We have been on an amazing run,” said Shone.

“But we have to win on Saturday to stay in the race.

“If we could get three points it would put the pressure back onto them to get results. It would put us four points clear of Bracknell and the pressure would be on them to catch us.

“We’ll see what they’ve got in their locker.

“Next Wednesday we’ll know (if Flackwell Heath can win the title), it’s as simple as that. If we don’t come out of these two games with at least four points then we’ll have to rely on the others dropping points.”

Shone was delighted with Saturday’s narrow win.

He said: “We had to win on Saturday to go to Bracknell with the incentive to put pressure on them.

“Our defence was magnificent and we created enough chances in the first half to have been one or two up. I thought that we were deserved winners.

“We’ve put pressure on Bracknell and Thame and we’ll be in the mix (for the title) if we keep doing what we’re doing.”