Falmouth Town will aim to finish 2018 on a high when they welcome Saltash United to Bickland Park on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).

Town have had a tough time of late and have failed to win any of their last six games in the South West Peninsula League Premier, including a 1-0 defeat at local rivals Helston Athletic on Boxing Day.

The Ashes edged an epic seven-goal thriller when the sides met in the reverse fixture at the Kimberley Stadium in September, with Town letting a 2-0 lead inside seven minutes slip as they ultimately fell to a 4-3 defeat.

Last season’s league game at Bickland Park also yielded seven goals, with Town coming out on the right end of the 4-3 scoreline on that occasion. Jordan Annear scored a hat-trick for Town, ensuring that he scored for the ninth successive game.

Saturday’s match completes what will have been a difficult run of games in December, with Town having played the top three sides of Argyle, Tavistock and Exmouth Town, as well as near neighbours Helston.

Manager Andrew Westgarth said: “You couldn’t have asked for another harder game could you? Off the back of Argyle and playing your local rivals which is obviously going to be a big game, and then obviously off the back of that going to play Saltash who are going for the title themselves, so the games are coming thick and fast."

Opposition in focus

Saltash lie seventh in the SWPL Premier table and, like Falmouth, are one of the chasing pack of sides behind league leaders Plymouth Argyle.

The Ashes will hope to be placing higher than seventh by the end of the season but have played fewer games than the six teams above them.

That is the result of their FA Vase run which saw them win four games on their way to reaching the third round proper, where they lost 4-2 at home to Western League Premier side Cribbs.

Around the grounds

Helston Athletic will be aiming to spring a surprise on South West Peninsula League Premier leaders Plymouth Argyle on Saturday, when the two teams meet at Kellaway Park (kick-off 3pm).

It will be the Blues’ final game of 2018 and the challenge could not be much more difficult if they are to maintain their recent good form.

Argyle won 3-0 when the two sides met at Argyle’s Coach Road home back in September, with all three goals from the Pilgrims’ professional contingent, namely Calum Dyson, Alex Fletcher and Gregg Wylde.

Helston manager Steve Massey said: “To be perfectly honest when you’re playing against Plymouth Argyle they’re always going to be somewhere around the top of the league, but it doesn’t really matter, it’s just Plymouth Argyle and you know they’re going to have a strong side out, whether it’s the talented kids or whether you’ve got the pros.

“It’s something that I think all sides should look forward to, I certainly do as manager, to challenge myself against them and I hope our boys are right up for it.”

Porthleven travel to Wadebridge Town in SWPL Division 1 West (3pm) as the Fishermen look to end 2018 at the top of the division.

Wendron United head to Holsworthy hoping to replicate their 3-1 win over the Devon club back in September, which kickstarted their fine run of six wins from their last seven league games.

Top meets bottom in the Combination League as leaders Falmouth Town travel to Carharrack. Town won 14-1 when the teams met at Bickland Park earlier in the season.

Helston Athletic will continue their own title march at West Cornwall, with it being a possibility that the Blues could end the year on top, should other results go their way.

Penryn Athletic travel to Lizard Argyle for the first time in the Combination League with the sides currently at the opposite ends of the table. Penryn are aiming to close the gap on the top three while Argyle looking to pull away from the bottom.

Perranwell can keep in touch with Penryn with a win over Mullion, Wendron United have a tough tie at home to Hayle and Porthleven visit St Agnes.