BOTH clubs battling for the MP Sports Cherwell League title will seek promotion if they finish top.

Division 1 leaders Oxford Downs and second-placed Shipton-under-Wychwood are keen for a first taste of Home Counties Premier League action.

Promotion depends on clubs meeting certain criteria such as facilities and accepting an invitation to join.

With Downs just 15 points ahead of Shipton and three games remaining, it is all to play for.

Even if no Cherwell League side such as Horspath, Dinton, Thame Town or Aston Rowant are relegated from Division 2 West of the Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League, the winners of Cherwell Division 1 can be promoted.

Shipton secretary Justin Hemming said: “As a club we are looking forward and getting the first-team into the Home Counties Premier League is key to that.

“We have brought in a lot of new players over the last couple of years.

“When we won the league in 2002, the first team generally felt they were too old to give that commitment.

“Whereas the squad now are a lot younger and more ambitious.

“A lot of that comes from Simon Hole, our captain.

“He has played in the Home Counties with Oxford and Banbury and his goal is to get us in there.”

Downs had targeted a top-four finish this season, so did not necessarily expect themselves to be in this position.

Secretary Roger Berryman said everything was in place for promotion, but stressed they had not formally add-ressed the subject.

“Should we be fortunate and win the league, I’m sure we will apply for entry to the feeder league,” said Berryman.

“The club are ambitious and everything is right in the club’s infrastructure to host Premier League matches.”

Chairman Ted Sandbach said: “We fulfil all the criteria for promotion, but it is the players who have to make that decision in consultation with the committee.

“I do not think the committee should impose itself on the players, but I would be disappointed if they were not keen to test themselves at a higher level.”