Yeadon have only won four games so far this season in the JCT600 Bradford League First Division.

But two of those have come in the past fortnight as they bid to avoid demotion – a tougher test than normal.

Most seasons, only two would go down but 2010 is when the league are evening up the number of clubs in the top flight, which means three down.

And Yeadon, who in normal circumstances would be breathing a lot easier, are in that third-from-bottom spot, 32 points above the usual drop zone but 21 points adrift of safety in this ‘special’ year.

The odds seemed stacked against the High Street club two weeks ago when they were 35 points away from staying up.

But victories over doomed Bankfoot and Gomersal has narrowed that margin to 21 points and Yeadon face a pivotal weekend.

They play the teams that are immediately above them – tenth-placed Farsley at home on Saturday and ninth-placed Baildon away on Sunday.

“Having three clubs going down makes it that much more difficult,” says Yeadon’s representative Les Wood, “but if it wasn’t going happen this season, it was going to happen next season.

“It will be a stiff test to stay up but there are still nine games left for us and Grant Soames and the lads are confident.

“What has disappointed me has been our batting. We have been set 160 or 170 to win some games and haven’t made them.

“But we knew that Damon Gormley could win two or three games for us with his batting when he rejoined us, and he has already helped to win one game for us with his 90 last week against Gomersal.”

Wood, who umpires in the league, said of the situation at the top: “East Bierley (currently fourth) have the strongest line-up but can’t get their best side out as often as they would like, so I see it as a three-horse race between Pudsey St Lawrence, Bradford & Bingley and Woodlands.

“It just shows that 2009 was a one-off bad season for Woodlands as they have basically got the same players.”

Saltaire, who are second from bottom, host Cleckheaton (sixth) on Saturday before visiting Pudsey Congs (seventh), while Farsley are at home to St Lawrence on Sunday, Saints travelling to East Bierley in Saturday's match of the day.

Baildon entertain Woodlands on Saturday, while Bingley are at home to Undercliffe in another key encounter.