ILMINSTER face a ‘make or break’ weekend as they bid for promotion back to Premier 1 of the West of England league.

Their prospects suffered a setback last Saturday when they lost to Cheltenham by four wickets.

And that result makes it all the more crucial they beat fellow challengers Potterne today.

Ilminster now lead Potterne by just one point, with Clevedon a mere 12 points further back.

And a defeat on Saturday could ruin their title chances.

Skipper Sam Spurway: “It was disappointing to lose against Cheltenham but in a way it hasn’t changed the situation all that much.

“Realistically we still need to beat both Potterne and Clevedon in our last three matches if we want to be sure of going up."

However Ilminster’s cause will be hampered by the absence of key players Harry Montacute and Jonny Hurford are both on holiday.

Montacute has just won the Somerset Cricket Board’s player of the month award following his wicket-taking exploits in July while Hurford scored 74 against Cheltenham to hold the Ilminster innings together.

Spurway added: “It’s not ideal losing these two players but that’s the nature of amateur cricket. In any case Potterne may be a few short themselves.

“What we need to do is play to the best of our ability and try to make home advantage count.”