Veterans League
A preview of Tuesday's fixtures in Divisions 3, 4 & 5 of the 10-Man League
Division 3 leaders Golcar Lib 'B' are the only top 5 team to have a home fixture this Tuesday and a real opportunity to put some daylight between themselves and the chasing pack. First of all they need to see off the challenge from Paddock I&C who need the points themselves to maintain an interest in the promotion outcome.
Almondbury Lib are level on points with the leaders but have a difficult-looking fixture this week against the in form Kirkheaton C&B C 'A' team who are on a run of 5 straight wins after a poor opening 4 match losing run to start the season which may still come back to undermine any promotion bid.
Brockholes 'A' and Denby Dale are the other top five teams playing away this week but still harbouring hopes of a second half surge to become a real threat at the top end of the table. This week they go to the Recreation Club and Slaithwaite respectively so no easy pickings there.
Lockwood Con 'B' may be doing well in the Bistro KO this season but their League form has to be of concern with only two wins all season being the reason they occupy one of the two relegation places currently. One of those wins was an opening day 8-1 home victory over the team they face this week and the only team below them in the table, Meltham 'B'. The Meltham side may take some comfort from the fact that 7 of their remaining 11 fixtures will be played at home but they need to start turning some of that comfort into points very soon if they are to recover their season.
The opposite is true for Skel Windmill who have to play 7 of their remaining 11 fixtures away from home in the knowledge that they haven't won any of their away matches to date. Outlane will be looking to keep that sequence going this week as both teams need the points to preserve the reducing gap between them and the drop zone.
Six points separate the top five teams in Division 4 and two of those five meet up this week as the leaders, Lindley Lib 'B', host Marsh Lib. When the two teams met on the opening day of the season it was the Marsh team that registered a 7-2 win but the leaders have a 5-0 home win record and will expect to extend that this Tuesday. Second-placed Marsh United 'B' have a bye this week so the main threat to the leaders should come from third-placed Springwood who need to see off a Lindley BC 'B' team who have won their last three matches including a first away win of the season.
At present the two relegation places look to between three teams who all have home fixtures this week and the chance to shake up the running order. All play teams outside the top four so this is probably a good an opportunity as they are likely to encounter from here on. Ravensknowle Park, Primrose Hill Lib and Kirkheaton Con 'B' take on respectively Thongsbridge 'B', the Rugby Club and Almondbury BC 'B'.
Division 5 leaders, Milnsbridge 'B' take a break from their KO exploits, they are in the Quarter-Finals of the Bistro and Sub-Team KO, to avoid a banana skin themselves this Tuesday when they travel to play third-placed Netherton Con 'B'. On a run of 5 straight wins, three of them by 8-1, the Netherton team are making a strong run to the top and this match presents a real opportunity to check out their promotion and title credentials.
Sandwiched between these two is Greenhead Park who go to play New Mill 'B' who have made a bit of a revival by winning their last three matches and started a climb up the table which they will be aiming to maintain. The threat from the two teams behind them is unlikely to gain any momentum this week as Holmfirth 'B' have a bye week and Kirkheaton C&BC 'B' haven't won away from home yet and will do well to end that record when visiting Broad Oak 'B' on Tuesday.
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