Arthurlie are title favourites but Rutherglen Glencairn can follow them to Premier Division
Co-boss Joe Pryce says four clubs are now competing for two promotion slots
Joe Pryce admits Arthurlie are now West of Scotland First Division title favourites, and it's up to Rutherglen Glencairn to follow them to the Premier Division.
Arthurlie went top of the First Division on Wednesday night with a 3-2 win at St Roch's, but with 25 games have played the fewest in the top five, as many as four in hand over second-placed Renfrew, who are now two points behind.
Glencairn are fourth on 49 points from 27 games, five points behind Kilwinning, who have played a game more, six behind Renfrew [with two games in hand] and eight off Arthurlie, going into this week's games.
Arthurlie had a hectic schedule of Kilwinning Rangers on Monday, winning 3-0, beat St Roch on Wednesday, and host Ardrossan Winton Rovers on Saturday, while Glencairn prepare for their visit to 11th-placed Kilbirnie Ladeside.
Glens co-boss Pryce said: 'Arthurlie have loads of games in hand, but that's really tough what they're doing.
'They've been playing Saturday-Wednesday and this week it's Saturday-Monday-Wednesday, and it's really tough to keep that going.
'But they have a big, talented squad, so I think they'll be able to cope with it and will still be everybody's favourites.
'Renfrew have been excellent and have one game left, so they sit idle for three weeks, while we play.
'For the rest of us, it's four teams fighting for two spots, and we've just got to hope that, come the last game, we're still in it and give ourselves a chance.'
Glencairn followed a bruising 1-0 defeat at Vale of Clyde last weekend with 3-2 wins over Thorniewood United on Wednesday and Kirkintilloch Rob Roy on Saturday.
David Leadbetter, Ross Paton and Boris Melingui got their goals in Viewpark on Wednesday, with Melingui bagging a hat-trick at the Hamish B. Allan Stadium on Saturday.
Pryce said: 'That just keeps us in the conversation, really, two really good performances from us, and we managed to edge out both games by the single goal.
'We look forward to going to Kilbirnie. It's a great place to play football, and hopefully we can put on another show.
'We know if we win our last three there's a fair chance we're going to get promoted, but we can't look any further than Kilbirnie on Saturday – that's a really tough game.
'Kilbirnie are a 'Premier' club, and it's going to be really difficult, but we've got to keep going.'
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