Veterans League
Preview of fixtures scheduled for the Veterans 6-Man League on Monday 17 July
The top five teams in Division 1 all play away from home this Monday with focus mainly on the race for the runners-up place as Marsh United continue to forge ahead at the top of the table. A visit to Lockwood Con this week is a repeat of the opening day fixture which the Marsh team took comfortably 6-1. However the Lockwood team are on a run of three straight wins albeit they have been against the bottom three teams whereas the Marsh team are coming off the back of only their second defeat of the season which was at lowly Milnsbridge 'A'.
The next three teams in the table are separated by one point so there is potential for change here. Skel Windmill 'A' have a shakey hold on second place and they have to go to Crosland Moor whose four wins this season have all come at home and the last one was against high-flying Shepley 'A' so anything is possible. The Shepley team will be looking to bounce back from that setback when they are on the road again this time travelling to play a buoyant Milnsbridge 'A' side after their big win against the leaders last week.
The main beneficiary from this week's top five teams all playing away could be Golcar C&BC as they are at bottom-of-the-table Elland C&BC who are still looking for a first win in their first season in the League. That leaves fifth-placed Brockholes 'A' having the most taxing fixture on paper with a trip to play Netherton Con who sit sixth in the table at present. However they are on a run of five straight losses so confidence is not really good at present but Brockholes are on a run of only two wins in their last seven matches to open up the match with a close outcome expected.
That just leaves the Longwood v Thongsbridge 'A' match in Division 1 to summarise. Very different fortunes over the last six matches for both teams with Longwood winning four of theirs and Thongsbridge only edging two of their last six. However Thongsbridge did win the opening day fixture between the two by 6-1 and will be looking to complete a double on Monday.
There is a top-three clash in Division 2 as the leaders, Slaithwaite, look to build on their 5-points lead over main rivals Lindley Lib 'A' by beating the club's 'B' team this week. The leaders have won their last six matches and Lindley Lib 'B' have only lost one of their last six and that was to the club's 'A' team last week. That leaves 2nd-placed Lindley Lib 'A' with a chance of closing the gap when they entertain relegation-threatened Linthwaite Hall.
Skel Windmill 'B' remain rooted to the foot of the table and have lost their last 10 matches with this week's home fixture against Milnsbridge 'B' possibly offering a lifeline to halting that run. Denby Dale could also do with a result at home to Golcar Lib but with the visitors only having lost to the leaders away in their last four matches that may be a big ask. Both teams will recall the opening day fixture when Golcar Lib inflicted the only 0-7 whitewash result on the Dale this season.
Holmfirth 'A' may be three places below Paddock I&C in the table but having won 3 of their last 4 matches are in much better form than their opponents this week who have the opposite form having won only one of their last four. Neither Almondbury Lib or Clayton West are in the best form of their seasons but one of them will find some salvation this Monday when the two teams meet.
One point separates the top three teams in Division 3 and two of those teams meet up this week when the leaders, Marsh Lib, go to play third-placed Thongsbridge 'B'. Marsh United 'B' are squashed between these two and will be interested in the outcome having played a match more than both of their main rivals for promotion. But they will be occupied in extending their unbeaten home record when Greenhead Park come to visit on Monday.
There is a good incentive for both teams in winning the Hemplow v New Mill fixture. If either team has thoughts of promotion this season then they need to start a run of good results soon and getting one over their closest rivals would be a good start in delivering that intent.
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