IAN Rowe has called for one final effort as Gornal Athletic look to clinch the West Midlands Premier League title.

The Peacocks are nearing the end of what manager Rowe describes as a “monumental battle” with Black Country Rangers and went top-of-the-table for the first time this season after Saturday’s 5-1 win over Cradley Town.

Going into last night’s game at Malvern Town, Gornal needed just four more points to secure the title and chances are they will host Sporting Khalsa on Saturday with a chance to seal the deal.

Rowe knows his side are in the driving seat.

He said: “It’s massively in our hands now.

“We have three games to go and need only four points.

“It’s all about getting over the line now, we have come an awful long way and it is a case of staying focused. Every man and his dog is telling me we are going to win the league but we can’t listen to that talk.”

The title race has been a two-way battle ever since Rangers stunned Gornal 5-2 on the opening day of the season.

Since then Rowe’s men have been playing catch-up and despite only losing once more it wasn’t unitl Saturday they finally edged ahead of their rivals, and even then it was only on goal difference.

The campaign of both teams has been a statistician’s dream, with Gornal currently boasting an mind-boggling plus-96 goal difference.

It could already be in triple figures but for their profligacy from 12 yards — Chris Waterhouse’s late penalty miss against Cradley was the eighth spot-kick they have missed.

Rowe admits both title contenders deserve immense credit.

He added: “It’s been a monumental battle right from day one.

“ Our goal difference is incredible when you think about it.”