Paddy Davitt King's Lynn keeper Scott Howie insists the pressure is on rivals Team Bath in their Southern League, Premier Division title head-to-head. Lynn will clinch the championship with victory at Merthyr in this weekend's league finale while Team Bath head to play off contenders Chippenham.

Paddy Davitt

King's Lynn keeper Scott Howie insists the pressure is on rivals Team Bath in their Southern League, Premier Division title head-to-head.

Lynn will clinch the championship with victory at Merthyr in this weekend's league finale while Team Bath head to play off contenders Chippenham. Keith Webb's side boast a vastly superior goal difference with the duo locked together on 82 points - and ex-Norwich stopper Howie is warning the Students to forget any slip ups.

“No, I don't think we should be worried about them,” he said. “They should be worrying about us because they have to rely on us not winning. Ask any of the players if we could have had it in our control going into the last game of the season and they would've snapped your hands off. For the last two months it's been shaping up that it could go all the way and that's how it turned out.

“It might well be like a cup final atmosphere but I wouldn't say the pressure is on. Real pressure is trying to stay in the league and fighting relegation. I think we've played with that for a few weeks. The big game for me was Bashley at home because that was our game in hand. We had to win it and we came through with flying colours. No disrespect to Merthyr but we are a good team. It's a hard place to go but we are confident of a win.”

The impressive Howie has marshalled the meanest defence in the league this season - but one of the club's leading player-of-the-year candidates remains critical of his own displays.

“Collectively, I've been happy with how it's gone,” he said. “The boys have played well as a unit in front of me but on a personal level I don't feel I have played at the same consistent level as maybe previous seasons. Keepers will always cost a team goals in the course of a season and I think that is definitely the case with me. Maybe it's not training on a full time basis, but I'm one of those players who is never happy and always looking to improve my performances.

“I was disappointed with the goal we let in at Gloucester on Saturday. I should never have let that in and its something I want to make up for this weekend. I just didn't judge the bounce of the ball. Gloucester could've had no complaints if we had gone in four up at the break. We've let a bad one in but then get an equaliser with one of the weakest strikes of the season.”

The 36-year-old is fully focussed on helping the club clinch conference-football - but admits he is keen to stay at The Walks next season.

“I'm really enjoying it at King's Lynn,” said Howie. “The fans are fantastic - they are desperate for success and you can see that the way they support the team. I'd love to stay - absolutely. I just have to sit down with Keith in the summer. He has done a fantastic job and really got the boys playing in a good way. We've had our hiccups but in the main I think we've been able to play our football, relax and express ourselves. King's Lynn has proved what a strong team they are in this league, but also in the league above if you look at the brushes we have had with other clubs this season.”