SWINDON Supermarine’s Southern League Premier South play-off hopes are hanging by a thread after three points from a possible six over the Easter weekend.

Lee Spalding’s men lost 2-1 at home to title-chasing Bracknell Town on Saturday before responding with a victory by the same scoreline away to local rivals, North Leigh on Easter Monday.

Marine trail fifth-place Poole Town by six points and will be hoping for the Dorset side to slip up as they aim to claim maximum points from their final three games.

Marine began well on Saturday but could not dig out a first-half lead against Bracknell – seeing a goal ruled out for a push and another chance strike the post. And on the stroke of half-time, the visitors took a shock lead when a mis-hit cross sailed over ‘keeper Charlie Searle.

Three minutes into the second half, Joe Grant broke the offside trap and rifled into the bottom corner to further frustrate Spalding’s side.

Harry Williams netted his 30th league goal shortly before the hour mark, but Marine could not find an equaliser ahead of their derby with North Leigh two days later.

At Eynsham Park, North Leigh hit the post early on before Zack Kotwica nodded home Joe Tumelty’s free-kick from close range midway through the first half.

Marine doubled their lead from the spot in the 30th minute after a handball by a Millers defender, but AJ George hammered in the hosts’ reply early in the second half.

When Ty Duffus handled in the area with 18 minutes to play, it appeared as though North Leigh would equalise, but Searle leapt to the rescue to keep out the resulting penalty.

Spalding’s men were put under extreme pressure late on, but they held out to stay six points away from the top five with three games to play.

Elsewhere, in Southern League Division One Central, Highworth Town’s quest to avoid relegation was not helped by claiming just a single point from two games.

The Worthians fell 3-2 at home to Walthamstow on Saturday – despite second-half strikes from Ash Edenborough and Sol Pryce – before securing a 1-1 draw away at Cirencester Town two days later.

Ciren hit the front in the 81st minute on the artificial surface, only for Charlie McCrae to nab a point three minutes from time.

Highworth are third from bottom and facing a relegation play-off if they cannot overhaul the four points to Aylesbury United – who they play on Thursday – from their final four games.