Veterans League Preview of the Veterans 10-Man League fixtures for Tuesday 7 June
The top four teams in Division 1 all have away matches this Tuesday with the leaders, Golcar Lib 'A' looking to have the most difficult encounter way to Elland C&BC 'A'. The Elland team has a 100% home record to date and are a formidable home opponent for any team. Should the visitors slip up then the chasing trio could all pass them with the right set of results as the competition remains very open.
Lockwood Con 'A' have the easiest looking fixture of that threesome at Lindley BC 'A' whose usual dependable home record has let them down this season having only won one of their three matches to date. They could do with a good result with their nearest rival, neighbours Lindley Lib 'A', having a bye this week and the opportunity to put some daylight between the two struggling teams.
Longwood's situation will also be of concern to them as they only have one win behind them so far despite five of their 8 matches being played at home this season and they are again at home this week, desperate to pick up another win, as Meltham 'A come calling.
There is an extra league match this week with the rearranged fixture between Cowcliffe and Kirkheaton Con 'A' scheduled for Friday.
Top of the Division 2 table sits Milnsbridge 'A' who are also playing away this Tuesday and keen to recover from last week's home defeat to their nearest rivals Almondbury BC 'A'. They go to Brockholes 'A' who continue to struggle at the foot of the table and after 9 matches are 17 points off safety, a gap that is widening every week. Almondbury BC 'A' are now just one point behind the leaders and have home advantage this week with Hemplow 'A' the visitors. Both teams have Won-6 Lost-3 records but Almondbury sit 2nd in the table whereas Hemplow are 10th.
Bradley & Colne and Netherton Con 'A' are both well positioned in the table and poised to take over should either of the top two falter at any point. Last season the Netherton Con 'A' v Thongsbridge 'A' meeting was a Division 1 fixture and after relegation neither side has set the world on fire although there are signs that Netherton are starting to come to terms the better at this new level. After losing 4 of their first 5 Division 2 fixtures they are now on a run of 4 straight wins and will expect to extend that run this week. Bradley & Colne have won 3 of their 4 away matches this season so a visit to play second from bottom Lockwood Con 'B' will hold few fears for them.
The form book points to the Slaithwaite v New Mill 'A' fixture as the one that neither team wants to win. Slaithwaite have lost 3 of their 4 home matches and New Mill have lost all 5 of their away fixtures so it is anyone's guess how this one will pan out.
It is a real top versus bottom programme in Division 3 as the top 6 teams play the bottom 6 where any variance from the expected outcomes could prove significant in the revised table. The top two, Holmfirth 'A' and Golcar Lib 'B' are both at home against Skel Windmill and Springwood respectively and both will be looking to confirm their top two status. That could prove detrimental to Springwood's hopes of moving out of the bottom two with their nearest two fellow strugglers, Marsh United 'B' and Lindley Lib 'B' both having home matches and a better chance of picking up some points even if they lose.
Ravensknowle Park have quietly opened up a 7-point lead at the top of Division 4 and with a home encounter with relegation-threatened Almondbury BC 'B' lined up will be disappointed if they haven't extended that lead further come Tuesday tea-time. Even more so as the next three teams in the table all have away fixtures this week. The biggest threat to that top spot may emerge from 4th placed Elland C&BC 'B' who have a game in hand over all the other top half teams but they will be really tested at Primrose Hill Lib this Tuesday.
Brockholes 'B' are the only team in any division still looking for their first win of the season and a trip to play fellow strugglers, New Mill 'B', offers some hope of a change in fortunes as the New Mill team have lost their last three home matches and are dropping rapidly down the table. The 'B' teams of Thongsbridge and Milnsbridge are level on 27 points with New Mill and both have home matches this week so will be hoping to add to the pressure on the New Mill team.
A full 5-match fixture programme in Division 5 this week for a welcome change and the unbeaten Marsh Lib side are poised to move into top place contention as they entertain bottom team Holmfirth 'B'. The top two teams both have home matches this week with leaders Dalton welcoming Kirkheaton C&BC 'B' and the Kirkheaton Con 'B' team playing Netherton Con 'B' who came down from Division 4 with them last season. Just one win apiece to date for the bottom three teams and that is unlikely to change this week although Hemplow 'B' will harbour the better hopes of a home match against Greenhead Park as an opportunity to salvage something to aid their quest to move up the table.
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