STEVE Coward believes his Chickerell side are one of three still capable of winning the Dorset Senior League this season.

The Chickens, six points behind leaders Balti in second place, search for back-to-back wins tomorrow when they travel to Blandford United Reserves (2pm).

Coward says Chickerell probably need to be faultless in their run-in, as well as requiring other teams to slip up.

But he insists his men are more than capable of heaping the pressure on Balti and Holt United, who he is also tipping to be in the shake up for first prize.

He said: “The lads know we pretty much have to win every game now as it’s out of our hands, and other teams would have to throw it away.”

When asked who he believed still had a chance of sealing the title, Coward claimed: “I think there are three sides that will be there or thereabouts.

“Holt will be up there, I thought Balti might have fallen away but they will be there, as well as us.”

Midfielder Pete Jarvis is likely to be the only absentee from the squad that beat Witchampton United last weekend.

As for Marco Nott’s Balti House, they will be without Charlie Kenderdine, Ricky Lane and Carl McClements for their trip to Holt (2pm).

Kenderdine and Lane played a big part in Balti’s 5-0 thrashing of Portland United Reserves, when Grant Chance again showed his prowess in front of goal.

Fifth-placed Holt represent a much stronger test for the league leaders, though Balti won the reverse fixture between the sides 3-1 just last month.

“Technically, it’s in our hands, but there is still a lot of football to be played,” said Nott.

“South Cheriton and Holt have got games in hand, but as it stands even if they were to win all of them they wouldn’t have more points than us.

“And at this stage of the season with seven games left I would rather have the points on the board.

“If we carry on playing like we are then we’ve got every chance of finishing top.”

Dorchester Sports have a weekend off and Portland United Reserves visit Corfe Mullen United (2pm) in the hope of earning just a second win of the season.