Getting tougher at the top

Veterans League

Review of the Veterans 6-Man League results from matches played on Monday 11 May

In the preview to this week's fixture programme we emphasised the pressure that the top two teams in the top two Divisions were going to be under and they all duly obliged by losing their Monday fixtures. The Division 1 leading teams survived that scare to remain in the top two places but it was a different story in Division 2.

The top two teams in Division 1 both lost their unbeaten records this week but there is no change in the running order of the top four. Both of the top two teams lost their Monday matches by the same 3-4 scoreline as Clayton West were beaten at Broad Oak A and then Marsh United A missed out by the same score to Slaithwaite who, despite that win, drop a place to 6th spot. That is because Waterloo topped the scoring charts this week with a 7-0 home win over Lindley Lib A.

An impressive 6-1 away win at Skel Windmill for Milnsbridge A kept them very much in the title race whilst Shepley A and Thongsbridge A both extended their losing runs to four at Golcar C&BC (2-5) and Netherton Con A (1-6) respectively.

There was only one home winner in Division 2 this week and that saw New Mill A overwhelm Golcar Lib A by 7-0 and go clear at the top of the table. Well, not very clear actually, as the top three teams all sit on the same 21-point mark with the previous top two dropping places despite good away wins. Holmfirth A stay 2nd after a 6-1 away win at winless Longwood and Lockwood Con drop two places to third after a 5-2 away win at Almondbury Lib.

The 0-7 defeat for Golcar Lib A by the new leaders resulted in a drop of two places and a place in the relegation zone joining Longwood who are starting to look seriously off the pace with a 5-point gap to the next team. A good 6-1 away win for Denby Dale lifted them two places to sixth spot. There were also 6-1 away wins for Marsh Lib A and Brockholes A to retain their hold on 5th and 4th places respectively.

A surprise 7-0 away win for Crosland Moor over Greenhead Park A saw the winner take over 3rd place from the losers in Division 3 as Greenhead Park plummeted four places to 7th. Hemplow A and Thongsbridge B retain the two promotion places as both recorded 5-2 wins. Hemplow away to Lindley Lib B and Thongsbridge at home to Broad Oak B which leave the two losing teams very much in the drop zone.

Golcar Lib B scored their first win of the season with a 5-2 scoreline over Linthwaite Hall but remain rooted to the foot of the table for now. Clayton West B shot up 5 places from 9th to 4th after beating Elland C&BC 6-1 whilst the losers drop three places to take over 9th spot. Marsh Lib B beat Primrose Hill Lib 5-2 to leave both teams in mid-table but both are nearer on points to the bottom spot than they are to top place.

Thongsbridge C have the only 100% win record in Division 4 but are still denied top spot by Netherton Con B who had a good 6-1 away win at Holmfirth B this week. Marsh United B have the top two teams in their sights but have played at least one game more than all the other teams in the division.

Brockholes D and Shepley B are both still looking for their first wins of the year after home defeats on Monday. The Brockholes team going down 1-6 to Meltham and the Shepley outfit losing out 2-5 to Greenhead Park B. There was a 6-1 home win for Hemplow B over Skel Windmill B whilst Thongsbridge C have to wait until Friday for this week's fixture at home to New Mill B which should produce a home win for them and a move to the top of the table.