Eaton Socon manager Mark Spavins insists his side’s hopes of winning the Kershaw Premier Division title hinge on them beating table-topping Great Shelford tomorrow.

The local side have fallen 10 points off the pace being set by the reigning champions in the Cambs League top flight.

That growing gap has prompted Spavins to bill the mouth-watering Mick George Stadium clash as a must-win.

Eaton Socon certainly need to kick the habit of throwing points away after being held to draws on the last two Saturdays.

They could only manage a 1-1 stalemate at Fowlmere last weekend after seeing a three-goal advantage wiped out as the reverse fixture against Great Shelford ended in a 3-3 deadlock on January 21.

Spavins said: “I believe we’re still in the title race, but we’re making things difficult for ourselves.

“We have to beat Great Shelford this Saturday to cut the gap and there is no reason why we can’t do that.

“We should have beaten them at their place and it is up to our players to take responsibility and see the job through this time.

“Great Shelford still have to play Hardwick, who are second, so there could be a few twists and turns ahead, but we’ve got to make sure we pick up the three points to put ourselves back in contention.”

Eaton Socon were caught cold inside the opening minute at Fowlmere last Saturday, but responded thanks to a Lee Bassett leveller.

The 13th-minute equaliser came at a high cost though as top-scorer Bassett suffered an ankle injury in the act of scoring and had to be substituted.

Eaton Socon bossed the remainder of the game, but couldn’t turn their possession into goals as they had to settle for a point.

Great Shelford beat another local side, Hemingfords United, last Saturday.

Captain Andy Ging did briefly put Hemingfords on level terms during the first half, but scoring also proved to be his last act as he was forced off following a clash of knees.

“It’s never good to lose,” said Hemingfords boss John Hughes. “But this was an extremely pleasing performance against the best team in the league.”

Losing has become an all-too-familiar feeling for the other Hunts side in the top flight – Brampton.

Wayne Ambler’s men went down 4-0 at Fulbourn Institute last Saturday to suffer a third successive defeat of 2017.

Somersham Town have completed a far more enjoyable hat-trick in Kershaw Senior A Division.

A 3-1 triumph against Soham Town Rangers Reserves last Saturday – earned by goals from Jake Asby, Declan Bellchamber and Daniel Sterna – wrapped up a third victory of an unblemished January.