Josh McCoy: Purbook can be promoted if we win all our remaining matches

Josh McCoy believes Purbrook can be promoted from Southern League division three. Picture: Keith Woodland

After suffering from a lack of availability during the first half of the season, the Heath side have been in excellent recent form.

They have won their past three matches and propelled themselves into third place in the table.

Bashley II are on track to win the title, leaving one other promotion spot up for grabs.

Purbrook firmly have their sights set on second place, currently occupied by Fawley, as do Saturday’s sixth-placed hosts Hambledon.

And with six games left, McCoy believes his side will reach division two if they don’t slip up.

The captain said: ‘Our aim is to win all our remaining games in a push to be promoted.

‘We’re all really starting to gel together and realising what our strengths are.

‘The availability has been pretty shocking all season but it’s starting to get better, so hopefully we can stick to the same 11 most weeks.

‘If we had our strongest side out every week then I’m confident we’d be right up there but we’re doing okay now.

‘I said at the beginning of the season our aim is to go up because we’re better than division three.

‘Now if we win the rest and hopefully a few results go our way, I think we’ll be promoted. We’re aiming for second.’

Purbrook fell to a two-wicket defeat to the Dons at the Heath earlier this summer.

McCoy added: ‘It’s an important game.

‘We do really need to get a win and hopefully take maximum points.

‘They beat earlier in the season but the wicket was a bit dodgy and we threw it away when we should have won.

‘They knew that as well and I’m confident ahead of this game.’

Relegation-battlers Portsmouth & Southsea travel to Fawley.

Fareham & Crofton hope to edge away from the drop zone with success at rock-bottom Lymington II.

Havant have a tough premier division clash at leaders Bashley, while Burridge head to Lymington.

In division one, promotion-chasing Portsmouth will be aiming for maximum points when strugglers Ventnor travel to St Helen’s, while Sarisbury host Rowledge.

Waterlooville welcome Paultons to the Rowlands Avenue in division two.