Eaton Socon captain Jonny Carpenter reckons a thrilling finish to the Cambs & Hunts Premier League season lies ahead.

Carpenter’s men are one of four teams challenging for Whiting & Partners Division One honours – and it’s a battle he reckons could go all the way to the final round of fixtures on September 15.

Eaton Socon sit 31 points behind joint leaders Saffron Walden and Sawston & Babraham, but boast a game in hand on both of those sides. That is at fourth-placed Foxton, who trail them by just three points, on Bank Holiday Monday.

Eaton Socon, who are bidding to lift the crown for the first time, then face the two teams currently above them next month with a September 1 trip to Saffron Walden ahead of a potentially huge climax at home to Sawston & Babraham on September 15.

“I’ve felt for some time that it might go right down to the wire,” said Carpenter.

“It is shaping up to be a really exciting finish with any one of four teams capable of winning the title.

“The team who finishes best from here will be champions and I wouldn’t be in the least bit surprised if it is decided on the final day when we play Sawston & Babraham and Foxton are at Saffron Walden.

“We’re certainly not thinking that far ahead, though. We’ve taken things one game at a time all season and we will continue to do that.

“We wanted to make this our best season and we’ve already done that regardless of what happens from here.

“We’ve got a good mixture of wise heads and young talents. It’s a nice combination to have with finished articles and others learning from them.”

Eaton Socon actually lost ground last Saturday despite reeling off a fourth successive victory.

They claimed a six-wicket triumph against Histon when easing past the visitors’ posting of 178-9.

Opening duo Carpenter (61) and Matt Pateman (55) did much of the work in the successful chase as they put on 127 for the first wicket.

But a failure to bowl out Histon proved costly with Eaton Socon having to settle for 25 points rather than the maximum 30 available.

Eaton Socon host Wisbech this Saturday in the first of their two games during a crucial weekend.