It’s a two-way tussle at top with crunch to come
THE Section 1 Championship title race in the Lockwood Windows Veterans League race is boiling up towards a marvellous climax with Elland and Lockwood Con both winning again.
Four points separate them now with Elland having the advantage – although they have played a game more than their rivals.
The crunch will come next Tuesday when the two main protagonists go head-to-head at Elland when a 7-2 home win will be sufficient to see the title change hands for the first time in five years.
Anything less than that scoreline hands the initiative back to Lockwood Con when they complete their fixture programme at home to thirdplaced Clayton West the following week.
The confrontation of the bottom two saw Milnsbridge beat Almondbury BC 6-3, a scoreline which almost guarantees that both teams will be playing in Section 2 next season.
It will take a strange set of results to see Netherton Con go down instead of either of them, and they need just five points from their final two fixtures to avoid such a scenario.
In Section 2 Crosland Moor clinched promotion with a 6-3 away win at Hemplow A and Thongsbridge A remain favourites to go up with them despite a 3-6 defeat at Kirkheaton Con A. Meltham B lost 1-8 at Broad Oak and as a result are almost certain to join Skel Windmill in an end of season relegation.
The top three in Section 3 all had big wins this week and Slaithwaite remain outside the promotion spots despite an emphatic 9-0 whitewash of Primrose Hill Lib A as the top two both logged 8-1 wins to stay clear of their challengers.
Bradley & Colne maintain a onepoint lead over Paddock I&C at the top after their win over bottom team Almondbury BC B completed their relegation.
A 7-2 home win for Lowerhouses means that they are the Section 4 champions, which will be a second consecutive league title after their Section 5 success of last year.
A 7-2 home loss for Canalside by Netherton Con B is a surprising – and major setback – to their promotion hopes, especially as Marsh Utd B completed a 7-2 away win at New Mill B to leave them as favourites to claim the second promotion place.
The bottom two, Meltham C and RUBC, are in serious trouble and their head-to-head meeting next Tuesday is unlikely to help either of them avoid the drop.
Kirkheaton Con B joined Lindley BC B in confirming their promotion from Section 5 and the two team’s results now sees them locked together on 128 points with the title still very much up for grabs. In the 6-Man League Four 7-0 wins on the trot is promotion form and so it proved this week for Marsden Park as they confirmed their promotion from Section C after beating Thongsbridge A.
Should they claim 11 points from their remaining three fixtures then they will also take the title. If they should win those last three matches then they will become the first 6-man team to go through the season unbeaten since Longwood last did it in 2014.
Marsh United could be going up with them as they need just five points from their last three matches, and could have those before the two top teams meet later this month. A 4-3 defeat for Section A leaders Netherton Con at Shepley A opened the door for secondplaced Lindley Lib A to press them all the way with a single point between the teams now – with three matches to go. Both have two home fixtures in their run-ins.
Don’t discard Shepley altogether but they do have only one home match from their remaining three games and are 8 points adrift in third place.
Farnley Tyas continue to stir hopes of a great escape after three 5-2 wins on the bounce has lifted them off the foot of the table where they have resided all season.
However, Brockholes A moved out of their range with a 6-1 home win over Crosland Moor, who look in trouble after losing their last three fixtures. Also looking over their shoulder are Thongsbridge B in striking distance of the bottom three, and a last day of the season away fixture at Farnley Tyas is not something they will be looking forward to.
The top two in Section B could complete their promotions next week but the title decider may well go down to the last day of the season when the teams clash.
Lockwood Con stay one point ahead of Longwood and have a run-in of three home fixtures so will be disappointed if they don’t add the title to their honours list.