Two from 5 are going down to Division 2, but which 2?

Veterans League

Review of the top and bottom of Divisions 1&2 after Tuesday's results

Two points now separate the bottom 5 teams in Division 1 with only two more matches to go. Cowcliffe had a good 5-4 away win over fellow strugglers Lindley Lib A but still dropped two places to the foot of the table, a position timely vacated by Elland C&BC after a 6-3 away win over Marsh United A. Despite that they remain in a relegation place but level on points with Kirkheaton Con A and Lindley Lib A. The Cons had a 2-7 defeat at the hands of Lowerhouses and are deep in the relegation mix as are Lockwood Con A who moved out of the 2nd relegation place thanks to a 7-2 home win over a Rastrick team who almost look safe thanks more to having 5 teams below them although only 5 points from a relegation place.

At the top end of the table 2nd placed Elland WMC had a surprise 2-7 home defeat to 3rd-placed Clayton West to sit in a group of 4 teams from which the runners-up title will pass to shortly. Golcar Lib A and Longwood played out a 5-4 home win for the Golcar team thanks to a 127-127 aggregate scoreline and are now level on 100 points each.

Meltham A almost clinched promotion and an immediate return to the top Division with a 1-8 away success over Almondbury BC A. I've marked them in the table above as promoted but they actually need one point more to mathematically clinch it but I cannot imagine a scenario where they lose both of their two remaining matches to nil whilst Lindley BC A win both of their last two fixtures to 9-0 scorelines.

However Meltham do have to play at Denby Dale next, but know that even a 3-6 defeat there will still give them the title. Six points from their final two fixtures will see Denby Dale promoted and they will escort the Champions into next season's Division 1 line-up.

At the wrong end of the table, Hemplow A are already relegated and will probably be joined by Almondbury Lib unless they can win both of their remaining fixtures which are against Milnsbridge A (a) and Thongsbridge A (h). The Almondbury Lib team took 10 points from their two matches this week to ease their relegation worries. It certainly would be the great escape if they came unscathed through both of their two final matches.