CHAMPIONSHIP TWO: Taylor hopes to put Welders title celebrations on ice

Gary Taylor's side will meet the Belfast side twice in the coming weeks.

"Unfortunately if the Welders win their midweek game against Killymoon, and then beat us on Saturday, they will win the title," said Taylor.

"I would like to put something in their way, however, and I am hopeful that if we play the way we did on Saturday against Queen's that we could even take a point."

The Portstewart boss was pleased with his side's display against Queen's on Saturday, but said that even late in the season Portstewart are struggling with consistency: "We never play two games the same.

"We were poor against Lurgan Celtic, but yet we played really well against Queen's.

"Chris Donnell was excellent, I was glad to see his name on the scoresheet, that's the best he's since his leg break," said Taylor.

Looking ahead to next season he added: "We have three games left, if we get one win out of these three, will finish in the top half of the table, and that's progress from last season.

"Obviously I would like to bring in a few players. We have learned this year that we need a bigger squad to cope with injuries, and that's something we will be looking at this summer."

Gary is also keen to hold on to the two players he has signed on loan - Cahir Friel from Limavady United and James Peden from Coleraine. "Obviously it depends on their parent clubs, but the two boys have been excellent for us, they haven't missed a game.

"Cahir is still only 16, we would be willing to keep him for another year and James has been very impressive, but we will have to wait and see how things go on these two."

REPORTS: Nichola Forgrave