All static in bottom half of Division 1

Veterans League

Review of the Veterans 6-Man League matches played on Monday 20 July

Marsh United A delivered a hard blow to Broad Oak A's chances of mounting a real challenge to the Division 1 top places after beating them with a whitewash 7-0 scoreline. That saw the winners leapfrog their opponents to take a clear 5-points lead in second place. That suited the leaders, Clayton West A, who had a 6-1 away win against mid-table Milnsbridge A and extend their lead at the top to 7 points.

Nearer the foot of the table Thongsbridge A scored their fourth successive home win when beating relegation rivals Skel Windmill A by 5-2 whilst Lindley Lib A remain out of form and in trouble after a 2-5 home defeat by Slaithwaite meant a fifth consecutive defeat and end the day closer to the relegation places. Shepley A's good home form keeps them moving in the right direction after beating Waterloo 6-1 and means that there are no changes in positions for any bottom half of the table team.

Division 2 leaders, New Mill A, double their lead to six-points after Monday's matches as second-placed Brockholes A lost at home for the first time since the opening day of the season. Their conquerors this time being Longwood who, despite their win, drop a place to 8th position. That is because Golcar Lib A passed them after a 6-1 home win over Brockholes B.

Meanwhile New Mill A continue their habit of winning at home and remain unbeaten on their own green after disposing of Paddock I&C by a 5-2 scoreline. Almondbury Lib close in on the second promotion place currently occupied by Brockholes A after a good 6-1 away win at Marsh Lib and are now just 2-points from becoming part of the promotion battle. Fourth-placed Holmfirth A still harbour hopes of becoming involved in matters at the top of the table and their latest 5-2 home win over Lockwood Con A avenged an earlier defeat but they remain 10-points behind the leaders.

Denby Dale eased their relegation worries with a 7-0 home win over Milnsbridge B who they pass in the table as a result, and they are out of the relegation places after a first win in nine.

Thongsbridge B are driving away from the Division 3 chasing pack after they won for the 12th time this season with a 6-1 away win at Elland C&BC to open up a 15-point lead at the top of the table. That was helped by 2nd-placed Hemplow A losing 2-5 at Linthwaite Hall

The bottom five teams all lost their Monday fixtures to retain the same running order and the same relegation fears for Elland C&BC and Marsh Lib B who went down 1-6 at Clayton West B.

All six results in the Division 4 fixtures went the way of the home teams and four of those winning teams now sit in the top four positions. Netherton Con B have a grand 13-point lead over Meltham who beat Thongsbridge C and Holmfirth B respectively. However Meltham's second position looks fragile with only two points keeping them ahead of Greenhead Park with both teams winning 4 of their last 6 fixtures as the tension mounts.

Hemplow B, with a match in hand over all the other teams in the division and only 8 points off of the second promotion place will count themselves very much in the promotion picture and a 6-1 home win over Marsh United B did their hopes no harm at all this week.