Away days for Division 1 top three

Veterans League

Preview of the Veterans 6-Man League fixtures for Monday 10 August

The top three teams in Division 1 all have away fixtures this Monday against teams in the bottom half of the table. All will be expecting to win those matches, and the consequences of not doing will not be great this week but come the season end, could be the difference between a great season and ending up as also-rans.

The leaders are Clayton West (still) and they have a 10-point lead which also means they will remain in that position regardless of the outcome of results this week. They will be aiming to protect and maybe enhance their title target when travelling to play a Netherton Con A team that has won 4 of their last 5 fixtures and only lost once at home (to Waterloo) all season. However with a run of 7 straight wins immediately behind them, the Clayton West team will be confident of extending that run and their lead at the top of the table.

Second-placed Marsh United A have the security of an 8-point lead over their nearest challenger, when they play at Golcar C&BC. Third-placed Broad Oak A will be looking to complete a league double over bottom-of-the-table Skel Windmill whilst 4th placed Waterloo remain a bit of a mystery, having already beaten the top two teams but are 22 points behind the leaders.

Division 2 leaders New Mill A are the only top six team with a home fixture this week and they will be expected to improve their 5-point lead over the chasing pack when hosting 6th-placed Marsh Lib A on Monday.

That means that the bottom four teams are all playing at home this week with just 9 points between them. The key fixture in that grouping appears to be Denby Dale versus Golcar Lib with the teams 8th and 10th at present but with 11 points separating them. Neither team being in great form at present and home advantage for Denby Dale could be key in determining the outcome.

Thongsbridge B head the Division 3 table with a lead of 17 points after only suffering one defeat all season. A home win against Linthwaite Hall this Monday would emphasise that advantage but with their two main rivals for the title taking on bottom-four opposition, it is unlikely to be a title-deciding phase of the season. Second-placed Hemplow A will visit relegation-threatened Marsh Lib B this week.

Golcar Lib are the Division's form team having won their last 7 matches and have a home fixture against Lindley Lib B on Monday. The Lindley team are desperate to lengthen the gap between themselves and the botton three but this is unlikely the week that it happens unless the bottom three all fold up on the day.

Netherton Con B have won their last 13 Division 4 fixtures and seem destined to be promoted but with a Monday away fixture at Hemplow B, who are third in the table, there is still more work to be done before that will be confirmed. Meltham are sandwiched between those two with a home match on Monday against mid-table Skel Windmill B could make up ground on the top two. Greenhead Park retain a real interest in the promotion race and with an away match with Brockholes D, who have lost 15 of their 16 matches this season, will expect a win to keep up the pressure on the top three.