League Prediction

August 2008

(Taken from www.bedfordshirefootballleague.co.uk)

Division Two Preview

With no club being relegated from Division One at the end of last season the 2008-09 the Division Two season will kick off with a fifteen team line-up consisting of ten sides who completed in Division Two last term plus last seasons top five from Division Three who have all been promoted at the expense of relegated Renhold Village.

Normally when you look pre-season to find this campaigns winners a good point to start is at the clubs who just missed out on promotion last time around but of the top three remaining clubs from last season all seem to a have a flaw in their armour, for fourth place Meppershall Jurassic the final 2007-08 league table shows just six sides conceded more goals than their seventy-three last term, for fifth place Mulberry Bush it’s a matter of scoring goals just fourty last term the equal lowest with second from bottom Woburn Reserves last season and for sixth place Oakley Sports Reserves there was just five home wins, facts which suggest it would be better to look elsewhere for this season champions.

That look takes me to the 8th 9th and 10th place clubs last term, Great Barford, Marston Shelton Rovers and Clifton, for The Rovers it’s a matter of somehow putting together a decent second half of the campaign,  as for the last two seasons they have lead the Division early doors only to fade away and like the fairy on the Christmas tree not be seen anyway near the top of the tree once the action gets underway in the New Year , so perhaps I’m inclined.to suggest if only Great Barford and Clifton can get their home record in order this season they of the survivors from last season Division Two look more likely championship candidates.

However there is a dark horse in the race namely last seasons twelfth place side Blunham Reserves who after a awful start to the season last term came good once the action moved into the New Year and with their first team having strengthen up during the close season its fair to assume their reserves will gain some benefit and could well at least get into the promotion mix if not be real championship contenders.

For the other three Division Two sides of last term, Lidlington United Sports, Saffron and Woburn Reserves you feel a big improvement is required for them to mount a promotion challenge and a mid-table position is the best they can expect especially as all of the five promoted teams look at least to be mid-table material if  not possible challengers for a second straight promotion.

Of these I see no evidence to suggest that Kings AFC and Blue Chip will not emerge like last season the best of the five whilst likewise I don’t expect either Meltis Corinthians Reserves or Marabese Ceramics to progress passed Potton Wanderers.

So just for fun here are the editors tip for the top six places, 1) Blunham Reserves 2) Great Barford 3) Clilton 4) Kings AFC 5) Meppershall Jurassic 6) Blue Chip