Division 2 teams looking up & down

Winter League

Review of the Division 2 matches played on Tuesday 16 December

One of the big benefits of having 8 teams in a Division is that most teams, if not all, are involved in the title, promotion or relegation battles that follow. That is certainly true in Division 2 where all eight teams still have work to do to satisfy themselves that they are either safe for another year at this level or remain involved in the promotion race. Some are involved in issues at both ends of the table at the same time. Milnsbridge A for example are just 9 points from the second promotion place but only 7 points from the second relegation place. A couple of good or bad results can chase their focus entirely.

This week they had the opportunity to address such matters with a match against the team 4 points and one place above them in the table, New Mill B. The outcome being a 4-4 draw which did neither team any favours apart from continuing their involvement at both ends of the table making them count the point differences to go up and down. The same could be said of the New Mill B side. Both of these teams have not won any of their last three fixtures so automatically their eyes look first at the results of the teams below them in the table.

They will have noted the resurgence of bottom team Meltham A who made it three wins on the bounce when disposing of Lowerhouses B by 6-2 and are now just 5 points from safety. That result did the losers no favours who haven't won a match since the opening day of the season when they beat the same Meltham team.

Marsh United are in a bit of a freefall run of form haven't not won any of their last 5 matches and becoming entangled in the battle to stay out of the drop zone. A 0-8 loss to Lowerhouses A didn't help their cause this week but will have revived promotion hopes of the Lowerhouses team ahead of their next two matches against the top two in the table.

The top two met on Tuesday with the leaders, Clayton West, extending their season-long unbeaten record by seeing off Lindley Lib A 6-2 to open up a 16-points gap to the chasing pack. That chasing pack currently consists of three teams within 5 points of each other which extends down to New Mill B which is where I started this report and emphasises the message that almost all teams in an 8-team Division have something to play for longer than in bigger divisions.