BUCCANEERS boss Garry May believes they can still make the play-offs following their nail-biting 46-44 triumph at lowly Weymouth.

May’s defending National League champions are in sixth place, six points adrift of a top-four spot.

But May feels Bournemouth Castle Cover are still in with a genuine shout of completing back-to-back titles following their two-point victory at the Wessex Raceway on Friday.

He said: “It was really important because we just had to win.

“All the sides above us in the table had won at Weymouth, so it was really vital we didn’t slip up.

“It means we still have a chance of making the play-offs, especially as we are unbeaten at home and have five more matches to come at Wimborne Road, with only four away.

“To win at Weymouth was great under the circumstances, not having our number one James Brundle available.

“But Jon Armstrong really went well. He was a fantastic guest rider for us.

“Mark Baseby showed us what he can do by returning to his old self and the rest of the team all dug deep to get the points we needed to come out on top in a close tussle.”

Armstrong, a former Wildcat now with Dudley, bagged 10 paid 11 and beat Byron Bekker and James Cockle in a crucial last-heat decider, while Mark Baseby and Aaron Baseby also starred with eight paid nine and eight, respectively.

May added: “Both Baseby boys did well. To see them come back like that after some tough times is great.

“Kyle Howarth had an opening-outing retirement but then picked up to get seven, with Daniel Halsey, Karl Mason and John Resch all getting among the points.

“But Jon was really great for us considering the limited number of guests we could use because so many other teams were riding the same night.

“We had to go to Jon even though he has a lower average than James, but he really produced the goods.”

Bournemouth visit high-flying Rye House on Saturday when they hope ex-Cobra Halsey and the returning Brundle will have a big say in the outcome.

May said: “We just have to win the rest of our home matches and pick up some good results away.

“If we can do that, we can still get in the play-offs.”