DANIEL Metcalf has issued a survival rallying call ahead of Oswaldwistle Immanuel’s winner-takes-all clash with Cherry Tree at New Lane on Saturday.

“It is a relegation shootout now, if we beat Cherry Tree then we are safe, so we know what we’ve got to do,” said Oswaldtwistle’s captain.

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“Both sides are desperate to stay up and we have to make sure it is us.”

Relegation would be a bitter pill to swallow for Ossie, who had targeted a top four finish after last month’s historic Ramsbottom Cup win.

They upset the odds that day, beating red hot favourites Settle, and Metcalf says he needs his side to dig deep one more time.

“We’ve not been at our best since the cup final and I can’t really put my finger on why, but we have shown this season that we can win big games,” added the captain who scored a match-winning 72 in the final, guiding Ossie to their first ever win Ramsbottom Cup win.

Metcalf was boosted by Sunday’s victory over already doomed Earby, Niall Heyes reeling in six for 38 as Ossie cruised home by seven wickets.

But Saturday’s crunch tie promises to be a far sterner test and Metcalf said: “We definitely have the spirit and belief in the squad and that cup final victory was special, a great moment in the club’s history.

“We just need to try and re-create that against Cherry Tree because this is another cup final.

“It is disappointing that we are in this situation, and disappointing that the league moved the goal posts for relegation so late in the season, but we have to deal with that.”

Oswaldtwistle begin the weekend in sixth place, two points above Cherry Tree, who occupy the final relegation berth in Section A.

The team who finishes in seventh spot will lock horns with Section B runners-up Padiham in Sunday’s Play-Off Final – for the right to play in the top flight next season.

While Earby are down, Baxenden also have an opportunity to save themselves, but they will need to beat Settle and hope then that Ossie do them a giant favour.

“For the first time since June we’ve got everybody available, and hopefully Saturday will be our last game of the season without having to face the play-offs,” said Metcalf.

The game could also mark a final appearance for Oswaldtwistle’s popular Australian professional Daniel Sartori, who has smashed 700 league runs this term.

Metcalf says he hopes Sartori will return to New Lane, but added: “We know that he has had a few offers from elsewhere, so we’ll have to see what develops in the coming weeks.”