THE race for the title in Basingstoke and District Saturday League Division Two looks set to go down to the wire.

Basingstoke Labour Club remain top of the table following a 3-2 win in their final game of the season at Herriard, but Basingstoke Athletic are closing the gap and look favourites to end at the summit.

Cameron George chipped the goalkeeper to put Labour ahead at half-time against Herriard, but the hosts levelled just after the break. George got his second of the game from the penalty spot before Paul Gadsden added a third near the end, and while Karl Buttle made the closing stages a little more nervy, Labour held out to win their last game of the season.

Athletic maintained their title push by taking four points from two games, a 2-2 draw with Bounty United being followed by a 4-3 win over Preston Candover.

In the game against Bounty, James Loundon and Matt Button found the net for Athletic, with Mitchell Stokes and Aaron Parfitt replying.

Candover took the lead though Paul Etheridge in Saturday’s game and while Nathan Read levelled from the penalty spot, Tom Green restored the advantage.

However, Ryan Evans scored either side of the break to put Athletic ahead, with Matt Stillwell making it 4-2 before a Kyle Buckland penalty set up a grandstand finish.

Athletic need two points from their last two games, both of which are against Winklebury Wizards, to claim the title.

Wizards caused an upset on Saturday, beating Bounty 3-0 to end their title challenge. Ben Clark opened the scoring after Ryan Watts had hit the post, with Watts and Matt Lowe finding the net after the break.

AFC Berg enjoyed a 10-1 win over bottom side Sherborne Reserves. Shane West opened the scoring and while Conner Perrin levelled for Sherborne, West’s second had Berg ahead at the break.

Sherborne manager Kevin Merritt had to take over in goal during the second half and the floodgates opened. West netted two more, with Kieron Alleyne also finding the net twice and Richard McCoubrie, Ross McCoubrie, Kevin Beaumont and Spencer Kirby also getting on the scoresheet.

Despite having striker Kevin Flain in goal, AFC Aldermaston A took a 50th-minute lead against Basingstoke United through Tony Johnson. Joe Cook soon levelled for United, but Aldermaston held out to claim a point.