Four teams still in with a chance of winning the Mid-Solent League Division 2 title

Jake Folland (white) scored for East Lodge in an entertaining 3-3 draw with Cowplain in Division 1 of the Mid-Solent League. Pic: Mike Cooter.

Carberry remain the favourites, despite a shock loss to Rowner last weekend. They only need three points from their last two games – against bottom two Horndean and Segensworth – or four if Rowner go goal crazy in their final fixture against East Lodge.

The silverware will be theirs on Saturday if they beat Horndean at Westleigh Park and Rowner draw with Lodge.

Rowner would be champions if they beat Lodge this weekend and Carberry failed to win their last two matches.

Lodge would win the title if they beat Rowner and Carberry took just a point from two games.

Fourth-placed Cowplain are not out of it yet, but need to beat Segensworth this weekend in their last game, hope Lodge draw with Rowner, and also hope Carberry pick up a point or less from two games.

Cowplain could jump above Lodge even if both teams win their final fixture, but they would have to beat Segensworth by seven more goals than Lodge beat Rowner by.

Lodge three times led Cowplain at the weekend, but each time Cowplain hit back to level.

‘It was a very entertaining game,’ said Lodge player-boss Jordan Davies.

‘It was annoying to concede three equalisers, but it could have gone either way.

‘We could finish second if we win our last game, and I’d settle for that.’

Top scorer Josh Davies fired Lodge ahead with Brad Yates grabbing Cowplain’s first leveller.

Lodge’s George Barton was sent to the sin-bin just before half-time, but his side regained the lead through a Jake Folland shot.

Cowplain levelled again through Aodhan Healey after the restart, with Lodge still a man short, with Davies heading in a Folland cross to restore the lead one more.

Cowplain bagged a third equaliser - Yates bagging his second of the contest - and Lodge were forced to play another 10 minutes a man short when Jacob Mulligan was sin-binned.

‘Overall, I thought we were the better team,’ said Davies. ‘But we play a high line and Cowplain were really good on the break.’

Cowplain boss Harry Collins remarked: ‘It was very open, end-to-end - a good game, very enjoyable. A draw was a fair result.’