CRICKET: ‘One more win and we’re safe’ says skipper

Lisburn’s relegation battle against Carrickfergus isn’t a case of win or bust.

That’s the view of optimistic club skipper David Simpson, who will first ready his side for a shortened game against Waringstown at the Lawn on Friday evening.

Carrick are at the foot of the table, two wins behind Lisburn and an away victory on Saturday should be enough to secure Lisburn’s survival with three games to spare.

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“I think one more win would confirm our position,” said Simpson.

“I think we will have chances to surprise somebody else and win again after this weekend though. I don’t think it’s a case of this being the be all and end all. People will maybe be building it up as that but I don’t think it is.”

On paper, there is no questioning that this is Lisburn’s best hope of picking up a fourth win of the Premier League season. It is followed by a home game against CSNI, a trip to leaders North Down and a final day game against Waringstown at Wallace Park.

Simpson would at least sleep a little easier if they could get that much needed victory this weekend.

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“Everybody thinks Carrick are the whipping boys but they are better than that,” he said. “We beat them earlier in the season but they will be a different proposition at their own ground.”

Of course, there is a chance that, by the time Lisburn take to the field on Saturday, their survival could be one massive step closer.

In Friday’s rearranged fixture at The Lawn, Simpson isn’t ruling out an unlikely four points.

Simpson’s side, of course, beat CSNI by 10 wickets on Sunday, just a day after Waringstown were turned over at the same ground by the same opponents, fuelling his hopes that a home victory is far from a formality on Friday.

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“Waringstown are wounded after losing what should have been a very comfortable victory for them,” he said. “They will be looking to get back at it straight away.

“They will be aware that what we did on Sunday was what they couldn’t do on Saturday so they will perhaps be holding a few more reservations than they would have had otherwise.”