Premier Division League Table - 2008/2009 Last update 4 January 2009

Premier Division Report by Mr. M Schneider - Publications Secretary

Biddestone Social will be very pleased with the way the first half of the season has gone for them, Danny Jones and Dan Lardner’s side top the table on goal difference from Dog & Fox Ashley but having won all their eight matches to date the Biddy Boy’s whose unbeaten run also includes a 4-2 victory over defending champions Corsham Centre A are looking a good bet to walk down the aisle in May as the bride rather than the bridesmaid that they have been so use to in the past.

Dog & Fox Ashley share pole position with Biddestone Social but Russell Whatley’s Bradford based outfit have played three more matches than the leaders and more importantly for them they have suffered defeats in three of those games. The Dog have lost to Biddestone, Corsham Centre and The Ship FC which at the time came as a surprise loss. The Dog & Fox are having one of their best ever seasons and with a little more luck and consistency and player availability they could mount a serious challenge for a top two place.

Box Rovers are another side who are experiencing one of their best ever starts to a season. Under the management of Stuart Beeho Rovers have at last ended years of disorganization and are happy that they have enough players turn up for a game on a regular basis. Rovers are still a little way off becoming the finished article that they were back in 2002 when they lifted the top flight crown but they seem to be heading in the right direction and if Beeho can add a few players to his already impressive looking side then they could mount a serious challenge for silverware next term.

Three time defending champions Corsham Centre A have only managed seven league fixtures to date and one of those ended in defeat against Biddestone Social, but you dare not right the Centre off as they are a team who are capable of raising their game to a new level when least expected. The Centre are still in with a chance of retaining the Wiltshire Sunday Cup but the competition has already cost them five domestic matches and will once again lead to them having to play midweek matches, but if Martin Bradfield’s side can put a fine run together then the race for the top spot should be as entertaining as last seasons when the Centre just piped Biddestone to it.

Potterne are one of the newcomers to the premier division this season and although they have only played seven games so far they are giving a good account of themselves and the second half of the season promises to be an exciting one for Pete Huntley and Lee Sanders side as they have just brought in a couple of new faces and have seen the return of an old one. Doug Dickson has rejoined from British Lion while Adam Heath who is at Corsham Town is new to the club and he should make a massive input as his new side look for a decent finish. Heath maybe joined by another Toolstation league player very soon but until he puts pent to paper his identity remains a secret.

Stuart Faint’s Holt side may have lost five of their last six matches but the villagers should be pleased with the way the fist half of the season has gone for them, they are currently in sixth spot and should have what it takes to consolidate a top half finish when the season gets going again.

Three wins on trot has helped Semington Rovers climb in the table and it would be a massive shock if they were to fall back down the table to a position of uncertainty from here. Semington had a very bad period that saw them gaine just one point from a possible 12 between September and late November but they have dug deep and have turned the corner and should be well set for the remainder of the season.

Since their arrival in the premier division, Lee Hayward’s Ship side have not had everything their own way and the side that walked to first division title last term have had more lows than highs. The began wit ha victory over Winsley but as the wheels started to fall off suffered heavy defeats against both Potterne and Holt, but now they seem to moving in the right direction once more 2009 could have better things in store for the Trowbridge based side.
Things aren’t looking too good for Westbury Rangers A, Shaun Gardiner’s side had the worse possible start losing their first two matches to Maud Heath Sports and Potterne but they have won four on the bounce to give themselves eight points. The most worrying thing for Rangers is that they have not played one league match on their Meadow Lane pitch since the start of the season and with the venue used by a host of other sides it is already looking likely that Rangers are set for a glut of midweek games.

Maud Heath Sports may only have eight points to their name but they ought to be in a position of safety but manager Andy Townsend would like at least a few more wins to be certain and to stave of the possibility of a relegation dogfight like his team were embroiled in last term when they came good when it really mattered. The Sports know that they will have to raise their game when they get back to playing but they should be safe for at least another season.

Winsley, Colerne and Miller Sports are thee three sides who look likely to feature in the battle to avoid the drop come May. Like the battle at the business end of the table the one to avoid relegation going to be just as fascinating and at this stage of proceedings it would be fair to say that two of the mentioned sides are certain for the drop but which two remain to be seen. Winsley have the upper hand on both Miller and Colerne but if the latter two sides can find some form then Winsley could find themselves facing a battle to survive the drop which was unthinkable two seasons ago when they finished as runners up to Corsham Centre for the title.



 

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