FARNWORTH SC are "feeling confident" heading into a season-defining two weeks in the Bolton League, according to club chairman John Barrow.

The reigning champions are second in the table, one point behind local rivals Farnworth, who they host tomorrow after today's visit to third-placed Egerton.

The Piggott Park men then face matches against the league’s fourth and fifth placed teams, Greenmount and Westhoughton, next weekend, and Barrow believes that coming through this perilous run of fixtures will determine whether they lift the trophy for a second consecutive year.

“It would be remarkable to win the title for the second year in a row,” he said.

“We’re feeling quite confident, although Greenmount are our bogey team and we got absolutely murdered by Farnworth earlier in the season.

“Unfortunately, the weather may play a part this weekend, which is never ideal because you want a full 50-over game and it to be decided by performances on the day."

Such a strong showing in the league was beyond Barrow’s expectations in a year when the first-team squad has been depleted by the loss of several key players.

However, the chairman believes the season could be classed as a success regardless of the outcome of their title chase because of the promise shown by younger players coming into the senior squad.

“It is always very important to win the title but if we have brought through two or three young players into the first team and finish in the top four, they were my goals at the beginning of the season,” he said.

“We aim to breed our own and keep our own at the club, but if we win the title it will be a tribute to the players that have been at the club for a long time.”

Despite the close nature of the top of the table – the top four teams are separated by just nine points – Barrow’s team are paying special attention to rivals Farnworth, although he insists that the rivalry is a good-natured one.

“There is always quite a lot of banter, some of it intelligent, some of it not so much,” he said.

“I’d describe it as a friendly rivalry, a lot of the players know each other and a lot of the fans know each other, but there are different views on that.

“I always support the local side, but some people would rather it was anybody but Farnworth!”

Fixtures

Today: Astley Bridge v Horwich, Bradshaw v Heaton, Walkden v Kearsley, Egerton v Farnworth SC, Farnworth v Westhoughton, Tonge v Little Lever, Eagley v Greenmount.

Tomorrow: Farnworth SC v Farnworth, Greenmount v Egerton, Heaton v Eagley, Horwich v Bradshaw, Westhoughton v Tonge, Little Lever v Walkden, Kearsley v Astley Bridge.