Big test for Division 2 leaders

Veterans League

Preview of the 6-Man League fixture programme for Monday 22 June

The bottom two teams in Division 1 both have home fixtures this week with bottom team Skel Windmill A having the chance of a second win of the season as they have a home match against fellow strugglers Lindley Lib A. Alongside the Skel team on the same 13-points tally sit Thongsbridge A and whilst they are at home they have to dent the leaders record if they are to narrow the gap to safety. Marsh United A have taken over at the top from long-time leaders, Clayton West A.

The Clayton West team sit one point behind the new leaders and have a very winnable home match against Golcar C&BC. The 3rd and 4th placed teams, Broad Oak A and Slaithwaite face each other and the loser will probably dip out of the title race for now at least. After last week's 7-0 win over Clayton West A, Waterloo ended a run of three straight defeats and will look forward with more confidence after that big win. They will have to take last week's form with them when they travel to play Netherton Con A if they expect to pick up the majority of the points and resurrect their title challenge.

Shepley A haven't won an away fixture all season and will do well to buck that run at Milnsbridge A who have won all four of their home matches this season.

New Mill A are on a good run having won 7 of their 8 Division 2 fixtures to date but this Monday's encounter is likely to be the supreme test as they have to go to Lockwood Con who are just four points behind them in the table. The 2nd and 4th placed teams also go head-to-head as Brockholes A host Marsh Lib A who cannot afford not to win as if they should do so then would see the second promotion place look even further away along with their hopes for the 2nd half of the season.

A real scrap is developing at the foot of the table involving five teams separated by six points. That includes Brockholes B and Paddock I&C who face each other this week whilst the bottom team, Longwood, have home advantage over Denby Dale who are also in that bottom five.

The top two teams in Division 3 played each other last week and Hempow A's unbeaten record went west as they lost out to Thongsbridge B who extended their 100% win record now have a six-point lead at the top. That unbeaten record is not matched by any other 6-Man League team and lowly Marsh Lib B will do well to take any points off the rampant Thongsbridge side. As long as there is no post-loss hangover for the Hemplow team they are still well placed for automatic promotion with a 5-point lead over third-placed Crosland Moor with a home match against fourth in the table Clayton West B this week

Looking at the Division 4 table and this week's fixture programme and noting that the top four teams all have matches that they will expect to win, then there looks to be very little change ahead in the pecking order after these results are posted. Second-placed Netherton Con B still have a match in hand over leaders New Mill B but the gap remains at three points which they cannot allow to grow any wider as they travel to play Brockholes C on Monday.

Greenhead Park B are the only top four team not at the top of their form as they have lost 2 of their last 3 matches but a home match against Skel Windmill B should present a great opportunity to address that blip. Brockholes D are the only 6-Man League team still looking for their first win of the season and they will do well to break that unwelcome run when visiting Marsh United B even though the home side have lost their last three matches.