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It was the perfect night for Manley, who beat Roland Scholten and then saw both Lloyd and Ronnie Baxter lose.

This is how it shapes up with one night to go in Reading next Thursday……
Pld Pts

1) Phil Taylor 11 21
2) Raymond Van Barneveld 9 15
3) Roland Scholten 11 10
4) Peter Manley 11 8
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5) Colin Lloyd 10 7
6) Ronnie Baxter 10 6
7) Wayne Mardle 10 5

So it all goes down to what promises to be a dramatic final night. Manley has to win his last match against Baxter, who also plays Raymond Van Barneveld. It will be tough for Lloyd. He faces Barney and Wayne Mardle, who still has an outside chance of making the top four, ahead of Finals Day in Plymouth on May 29.

Reading order of play:

Colin Lloyd v Raymond Van Barneveld
Peter Manley v Ronnie Baxter
Raymond Van Barneveld v Wayne Mardle
Phil Taylor v Roland Scholten
Ronnie Baxter v Raymond Van Barneveld
Wayne Mardle v Colin Lloyd

Manley kept his side of the bargain in Stevenage, coming from 4-2 down to beat Scholten 8-6. ‘One Dart’ actually missed seven darts to wrap it up, before finally nailing double six for victory. He averaged only 86 but won’t worry about that. Remember, last year he won his last three games to qualify and he is on track to do it all over again!

He then sat back and watched all the other results go his way! “I am a fighter,” he said. “And that is what I am going to do next week against Ronnie. The pressure up there is phenomenal but I reckon I can handle it.”

Lloyd suffered yet another thrashing at the hands of Unicorn stablemate Phil Taylor. ‘The Power’ still averaged just under 100, despite hitting 8 doubles from 24 attempts. Lloyd won the first leg of the match but was all over the place with the darts, as the pressure told.

Taylor said: “I even felt the pressure for Colin. I think he was trying too hard. That scrap for 4th place is intriguing now!”

Twice Taylor just missed big finishes on the bull – going for 170 and 164, as Lloyd faded badly. But he still knows two victories over Barney and Mardle in Reading will be enough to take him through.

Mardle’s first victory of the tournament means there is still a chink of light for ‘Hawaii 501’. He beat Baxter 8-5 in a high quality match, which included ten 180s.

Van Barneveld coasted to an 8-3 win over Scholten. The only consolation for ‘The Tripod’ was a cheque for £1,000. His 137 finish was the highest of the night.

Roll on Reading. It should be quite a night. Scholten is still favourite to claim one of those two remaining places. His 10 point haul looks like being enough. For Manley, Lloyd and Baxter – it will surely come down to just who can handle the pressure in the heat of battle!

Watch this space!

BY STUART PYKE