SO after another long, hard season at Edgeley Park, Stockport County players are preparing for one last push as the fight for League survival reaches what is sure to be the most dramatic of climaxes.

With just one game to go, ités quite amazing that there will still be seven sides battling to avoid the one remaining relegation berth this weekend - a drop into non-league football that would be a devastating blow for whoever fails to show enough bottle on Saturday.

Looking at the League Two table as it stands, many would agree that all Jim Gannon and his County charges need to do against Carlisle is better Oxfordés result against Leyton Orient.

Jim Smithés side havenét exactly surged towards safety since éthe Bald Eagleé returned to the Kassam Stadium in a blaze of publicity recently.

They currently sit in the second relegation spot, two points adrift of County, but perhaps crucially they have a superior goal difference than the Hatters.

If Oxford lose or draw, County are safe and ités happy days, but if Oxford win, then County surely MUST win.

However, such are the possible permutations, and should Oxford win, County could still survive if they draw and one of the other four teams on 51 points [Macclesfield, Torquay, Barnet or Notts County] loses.

Perhaps a consolation for County is that Oxford are playing Leyton Orient [at home] this weekend. Martin Lingés side have been in great form all season and critically, they need a win to secure automatic promotion - surely they will be busting a gut to achieve that dream!

Countyés minus 21 goal difference means they are bottom of the five teams on 51 points, but of those other four teams Macclesfield face a tricky trip to Bristol Rovers and Notts County are at home to Bury, the last of the sides who could drop as they are on 52 points.

Barnet travel to already doomed Rushden, and Torquay - on the back of four straight wins - host mid-table Boston, so those two will no doubt fancy their chances of securing three points.

But, as many, many people have stated down the years, stranger things have happened.

At least Countyés fate is still in their own hands though, something that looked scarcely possible after the Boxing Day massacre at Macclesfield, and ités now down to the players and YOU, the fans, the étwelfth mané, to help inspire that last push.

On Saturday nails will be bitten, radios clutched to fansé ears, there will be gasps and groans, but the Stockport County fans can make a difference and urge THEIR players to stave off the threat of the dreaded, disastrous drop.

• SIMON Smedley will be talking about Countyés prospects on sports show éGround Rulesé on BBC Radio Manchester on Friday night, between 7-8pm.

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