Finsbury Park head coach Gareth Chapman is hoping to finish 2018 on a high as they look to pick up another victory in their final fixture before the Christmas break, writes Jacob Ranson.

Islington Gazette: Finsbury Park spill a high kick in the match between Hitchin and Finsbury Park. Picture: DANNY LOOFinsbury Park spill a high kick in the match between Hitchin and Finsbury Park. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2018 Archant)

Park travel to fifth-placed Bank of England on Saturday as they look to remain second or even nab first plaec in the Herts Middlesex One.

“You want to finish the year well, you always want to win, but being the last game of the year – it’s another boost,” Chapman said.

“If the boys can go into Christmas hopefully still sitting in second place if not first, depending on results, you can’t ask for too much more than that halfway through the season.”

Park sealed a 69-0 win over their opponents when they last met on September 15.

But Chapman expects Bank to come back wanting revenge and insists playing at their ground will be completely different.

“We did play them earlier on in the season, so realistically the lads should know a bit about them, but all at the same time, it’s one thing playing a team away compared to at home,” he added.

“It’s never the same, if I’m really honest.

“I think the fact of the matter is we beat them earlier this season so they’re going to want a bit of revenge. Playing at home will obviously be the perfect opportunity for them to get that.

“I expect a tough game and it’s a bit of a way for us to travel, so that will have an affect. I’m expecting to go, the boys will front up, and put on a good show.”

Park picked up a 28-17 victory over Wasps last weekend and Chapman insists it was needed after their defeat to title rivals Hitchin a week earlier.

“We knew that was exactly what we needed to boost confidence,” he said.

“The guys knew the weekend before was a hard game and we knew the game against the Wasps was going to be a tough test as well, which it was, so coming out with the win and the bonus point was exactly what we were looking for.

“I’ll be honest, they were a decent team, they stuck to us for a good 60 to 65 minutes, and it was just in the last 20 minutes we managed to get those last couple of tries to pull away.”

Herts Middlesex One

P W D L F A Pts

Hitchin 11 10 0 1 342 148 48

Finsbury Park 11 9 0 2 352 99 45

St Albans 11 8 0 3 257 225 39

Wasps FC 11 6 1 4 221 251 32

Bank of England 11 5 1 5 288 345 30

UCS Old Boys 11 5 0 6 198 258 28

Saracens Ams 11 5 0 6 295 308 26

Thamesians 11 5 0 6 255 285 26

Hendon 11 4 0 7 214 212 23

Staines 11 4 0 7 230 303 21

Actonians 11 3 0 8 236 312 20

Barnet Eliz 11 1 0 10 171 313 11