Division 1 & 4 table-toppers are beaten

Veterans League

Review of the results from all the Veterans 6-Man League Monday matches

Just as I proclaim that Clayton West are strolling to the Division 1 title, than they lose 2-5 at bottom-half of the table Shepley 5-2. That was doubly damaging as the four teams immediately behind them all had good wins with the gap now down to six points. Well done to the Shepley team who have turned their season around after losing 6 of their first 7 matches this season. Now on a run of 5 straight home wins to move comfortably into mid-table and safe from any more thoughts of being in a relegation battle.

Although, of the four teams chasing the leaders, only Marsh United have a realistic chance of catching them, with now just a 6-point gap between them after they won 5-2 away at Lindley Lib A. That left the Lindley team deep in relegation trouble on a run of just one win in their last 10 fixtures and going backwards at a rate of knots. They are only saved from being worse off due to bigger defeats this week for Skel Windmill (1-6 at Slaithwaite) and Thongsbridge A (0-7 at Waterloo).

Brockholes A continue to prove that their challenge for the Division 2 title is on firm footing as they make it 7 wins out of their last 8 fixtures whilst New Mill A appear to have imploded with a third straight defeat and a second consecutive at home this time coming from the major threat to their promotion place, Holmfirth A. A 4-3 win for the visitors secured by an 82-81 aggregate win sees them 8 points off the second promotion place with a final day of the season fixture at home to the leaders looking more and more likely to be a promotion or bust challenge.

Away wins for Marsh Lib A (5-2 at Denby Dale) and Almondbury Lib (4-3 at Paddock I&C) kept their own promotion hopes alive for another week. That is especially true for the Marsh Lib A team who have a head of steam up now with a 5th consecutive win and a key away trip to next play Holmfirth A on their agenda

Brockholes A did their B team club mates no favours when beating them 6-1 to leave them still stranded in bottom place. That is only prevented from being any worse due to Milnsbridge B losing 0-7 at home to Longwood to keep them company in the two relegation places.

A surprise 6-1 Division 3 home win for Elland C&BC over Hemplow A had repercussions at both ends of the table. It moved the Elland team of the foot of the table for the first time in weeks sinking Greenhead Park to bottom spot after a 3-4 home defeat to Golcar Lib B. Those two results saw Golcar Lib B extend their promotion lead to 7 points over Hemplow A whilst Thongsbridge B continue to lead the way at the top of the table with a 22-point promotion cushion over third placed Hemplow A. The Hemplow team are on a run of four defeats from their last six matches which is not promotion form. With a home match against the runaway leaders Thongsbridge B next week their promotion hopes could disappear altogether before the month is out.

Only four matches left for the Elland team to save their season and seven points from safety with a difficult away match at promotion-chasing Golcar Lib B coming up next. A final day home fixture against Marsh Lib B could provide a tense ending to the season for both teams. The Marsh Lib team couldn't have done much more than beat Lindley Lib B 6-1 and may have to repeat that form if they are to stay above the red relegation line.

A 1-6 away defeat for the Division 4 leaders, Netherton Con B, at third-placed Meltham opened up the promotion race with 6 points dividing the three main contenders. It put the Meltham team firmly in the promotion chase, if not the title race. All the top three teams will fancy their chances of taking the title but for one of them there will not be the consolation prize of promotion to ease their wounds.

Hemplow B maintain their interest in the title after a resounding 7-0 home win over Greenhead Park B which just about ends any promotion hopes they harboured for this year. The Brockholes derby match saw the D team use 'home advantage' to come out on top as 4-3 winners for a third win of the season. Elsewhere, a 5-2 home win for Marsh United B and a 5-2 away win for New Mill B over Skel Windmill B completed the programme without impacting on matters at either end of the table.