Crunch time at the foot of Divisions 1 & 2

Veterans League

Preview of the fixtures for Tuesday 2 September in Divisions 1&2 of the 10-Man League

The top two Division 1 teams both have tricky away fixtures this week against top four opponents. Lowerhouses go to Clayton West whilst Longwood have to play Cowcliffe. Lowerhouses are on an 11-match unbeaten run and are the start of their final four fixtures which are against the teams in 3rd, 4th,5th and 6th positions. Ironically Longwood also have to play three of those four along with a home match against bottom of the table Waterloo which could end up in being key in determining the destination of the 2025 Division 1 Champions title..

Both could be pushed all the way this week but regardless of whatever happens, they will still be in the same two positions come Tuesday evening. The same is not necessarily the same for the next three teams as Kirkheaton Con A sit in third place and have the easier looking home fixture against Marsh United A who continue to struggle in the nether regions of the Division 1 table.

The table below offers some hope to Meltham in avoiding the drop as they have the easiest looking run in which includes matches against three of their fellow bottom four teams which provides a route through to safety but it does mean winning at least two of those fixtures. In addition they don't have to face a top four opponent whilst their one match against a mid-table team is at home to Rastrick who have the worst away record of any team outside of the bottom four.

Marsh United A also have a home match against Rastrick in their four remaining fixtures but also have to face two top-four teams which is more than any of their fellow bottom-four teams. With Waterloo 18 points adrift of safety and only one other bottom-four team to face their plight seems final and it is more of a battle as to decide the team to drop down with them. The situation with Lindley Lib is very much in their own hands as if they can beat the two teams below them in the table, both matches being at home, then they look nailed on to survive.

With Elland WMC looking secure in top spot in the latest Division 2 table and, with the best away record in the Division, should approach their visit to Broad Oak A with a degree of confidence. However with Elland C&BC having a home encounter with bottom-of-the-table Golcar Lib B they will not want to offer any glimmer of hope to their nearest rivals (both geographically and in the table). The Elland C&BC team are closer to being overtaken by the third placed team than they are of catching the leaders and will feel stronger about holding on to their promotion place with a big home win under their belt this week.

Golcar Lib B look increasingly orphaned at the foot of the table but ironically have the best form of the bottom four having won 2 of their last 3 fixtures. But an 11-points gap needs filling and that is asking a lot of a team that has still to play the two Elland teams before the end of the season and have no fixtures against any other bottom four team. It increasingly looks like who will go down with them.

Three teams are in danger of the dreaded drop along with Golcar Lib B. None of the three has a recent good form guide to influence their thinking. All three have to play an away match against one of the top four teams. New Mill A really will have to win their two remaining home matches which are both against bottom four rivals and that could be crucial. Should that come about, then Netherton Con A become very vulnerable, but surely avoiding a second consecutive relegation is within their grasp. We shall see.