14/01/2016
Fleetwood A
The early season fixtures list played against Fleetwood A, so their customary position at the top of the league was temporarily held by other teams. Not that Fleetwood were in any way below par; they started the season determined to make it 20 consecutive championships and the return of an “old hand” and the recruitment of an ex-Lidunian strengthened their position. They have been relentless, scoring an average 21 games per match and at mid-way sit top of the pile again.
Pilling A
After a fourth place finish last year, Pilling A wouldn’t necessarily had been a good bet for second place, but at mid-season that’s where they sit, just four points behind Fleetwood A. Starting the season with an inauspicious draw against Pilling B, they have since only lost once, to Fleetwood A, and have beaten their two main rivals for second place pretty comfortably.
Poulton le Fylde A
Disappointed? Probably! Having finished second last season Poulton le Fylde A’s ambitions must have been for another second place, at least, this year. However, with two defeats, to Fleetwood (expected) and Pilling A (not), they’ll have to pull their socks up to meet expectations.
Kingfisher A
At fourth, a place higher than last year’s finish (maybe because Lidunians A pulled out?) Kingfisher A are playing consistently and have won more games than the second and third placed teams. Can they turn game superiority into points with the bigger teams?
Albany A
With a couple of differences in their line-up, Albany A looked stronger on paper and are in a much better position than at midway last season. Even so, they don’t look as sharp as they should be. The draw at Kingfisher B shouldn’t have been a total surprise but being top of the league for more than a week certainly was!
Kingfisher B
One of the teams due for relegation at the end of last season, Kingfisher B stayed put because of league restructuring. They are doing pretty well with wins over teams below them and a draw with a team above. With the wind behind them in the second half they should be around the same position at the end.
Pilling B
Pilling B also stayed in this division as a result of the league restructure and, it seems, they are barely coping with the pace. But for the unexpected draw against their own A team, Pilling B could be in the relegation places now. They are in the relegation dogfight for sure!
Hesketh A
Very sadly a man down from last year, Hesketh A have steeled themselves for what was always going to be a tough time. A repeat of the one win (against higher placed Kingfisher B) and one draw statistics from the first half of the season will not be enough for them to avoid the drop, so they need to come out fighting even harder in the second half.
BAE Systems A
Won last year’s Division two by a country mile, but then were forced to accept personnel changes which were hard to swallow. Their one win, against Hesketh A, was possibly as much as could be expected in the circumstances; it seems impossible at this stage that their scoring rate could improve, but who knows....
