Winter League
Four Divisions are in action on Monday as the catch up exercise continues as Divisions 1, 2,4 and 5 have a full set of fixtures to complete this Monday. Time to pick out the Match of the Day in each of those four divisions.
Division 1 Match of the Day - Cowcliffe A v New Mill A
Although Thorpe Green A cannot claim the Division 1 title this week they can go a long way towards it as they take on relegation threatened Meltham A. However the focus today is really on the chasing pack of four teams only separated by four points with four matches left to play. Two of those four teams play each other as the 2nd v 3rd clash of Cowcliffe A v New Mill A catches the eye. Two points separate the two teams, both have won their last two matches after a December stutter halted higher aspirations.
New Mill A finished third last season and have a higher target in their sights this year. With probably the easiest run-in after Monday's fixture to the end of season they will be keen to still be well positioned after these rearranged fixtures. Cowcliffe have a had a good first season in the top division and promise to become a permament fixture in the upper half of the table. It would be a notable achievement to finish the season where they currently sit, 2nd in the table, and setting themselves up for a real challenge for the title next year.
Division 2 Match of the Day - Clayton West v Golcar Lib
With no real standout Match of the Day I've selected this one as it means so much to Golcar Lib in keeping their hopes alive of finishing top of the Division 2 table. With a 6-points gap to top spot they cannot lose any more ground to Hanging Heaton A and despite an unbeaten record all season may have to settle for the runners-up position.
After an indifferent start to the season which included an 0-8 defeat against today's opponents, Clayton West have got their act together and steadily climbed the table to be comfortable in fourth place. Having lost all their previous matches against the top three in the table and 3 of their last 4 fixtures being against those same top three they will not wish to suffer a drop although points secured to date will reassure the same status for next term.
Golcar Lib surprisingly failed to justify their introduction to the League being a place in the top division and this is a season of redemption for them and they have grasped that opportunity to earmark a return to that level and another opportunity to settle at that level again.
Division 4
Match of the Day - Linthwaite Hall A v Thorpe Green B
A relegation battle match is selected as the match of the day as we feature the Linthwaite Hall A v Thorpe Green B fixture as the crunch match which will go a long way to at least one of these teams finishing the season in the drop zone. Two points currently separate the teams and Linthwaite Hall have had a season of two halves to date. Their first 5 fixtures produced 4 victories totally justifying their elevation to this level after a first season runaway Division 6 title win. Then it all went wrong with the next 5 matches all lost as they dropped from top spot to a relegation place where they remain at present.
The opposite is true of the Thorpe Green B team as they didn't win any of their first 5 fixtures but collected 3 wins in the next 5 to sit one place and two points ahead of today's rivals. With three teams above them within 4 points there is every hope that a big win would see them move upwards but a big defeat would see them back in the drop zone. This is a key match for both teams.
Division 5
Match of the Day - Lindley Lib C v Elland WMC
A big day for Lindley Lib C as an 8-0 win will secure them the Division 5 Champions title but the Elland team have a very different target in mind. They are level on points with Milnsbridge C who currently sit in the second promotion place and with Elland having the more difficult looking run-in to the end of season cannot contemplate losing ground at this late stage of the campaign. Having lost to Milnsbridge C last week they need to re-establish themselves as promotion contenders and what better platform is their to do that on than when taking on the table toppers.
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