Our third and final look at the County Women’s Leagues during the festive break in play begins in the Midwest Counties and finishes in Wiltshire.
Midwest Counties
Malvern Town are leading Division 1 going into the new year but Bromsgrove Sporting Development have two games in hand, with just three points to catch up. Hereford FC lead Division 2 but under pressure from Lye Town County and Stourbridge Development, who both have several games in hand.
North Riding
York City U-23s top the 14-team league after ten wins from eleven outings, Guisborough Town maintain a serious threat to their leadership with eight wins in a row.
Norfolk
Unbeaten Caister hold a one-point advantage over Mulbarton Wanderers Reserves in Division 1, Bungay Town are also without defeat in third spot. Bure Valley, Mundford and Stalham Town all have 24 points from nine games in Division 2, Beccles Town Development are four points behind from a game fewer.
Northamptonshire
Moulton are top of the Premier by one point from unbeaten Bugbrooke St.Michael and also Long Buckby who both have games in hand, AFC Rushden & Diamonds are also yet to lose. Desborough sit two points in front of Brackley Town Saints in Division 1, third-placed Crick Athletic are unbeaten and with games in hand.
Northumberland
International Soccer Academy are 11 points clear of the rest in the Premiership, West Allotment Celtic and Wallsend BC U-23s struggling to stay in contention, while Newcastle East End have been limited to only three games but won them all. Morpeth Town lead Division 1 from Heddon United but there are multiple games to make up for Berwick Rangers Academy (who have a 100% record), Gosforth Bohemian, Westerhope United and Cramlington Town.
Nottinghamshire
Division 1 leaders are Newark Town but being pursued by Radcliffe Olympic, Nottingham Trent University Pink and Arnold Eagles Flyers. Lowdham lead Division 2 ahead of University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University Black, whose challengers have both been hampered by points deductions. Gedling Southbank are currently top of Division 3, although Southwell City have a perfect record and Woodhouse are unbeaten.
Sheffield & Hallamshire
Kiveton Park lead Division 1 from Sheffield Wednesday on goal-difference but third-placed Brunsmeer Athletic are a major threat, having won all their game so far. Hemsworth Miners Welfare are unbeaten and Division 2 leaders by one point from Millmoor Development, Division 3 top side Dearne & District are one point and one match better off than Dronfield Town Reserves, Mexborough Athletic are third and yet to lose. Hemsworth Miners Welfare Development are in first position in Division 4 despite a points deduction, although Mind Over Matter have three games in hand and only trail by a single point.
Somerset
Barwell lead the way in Division 1 but Yeovil Town have won all nine games, have two in hand and three points to make up. Top of Division 2 North are Weston Super Mare Reserves, with a chasing pack of Bath City Development, Highridge United, Ashton and Cheddar. Yeovil Town Development lead Division 2 South by five points from Pen Mill Reserves, who have played one game fewer.
South East Counties
Gillingham-based XL Academy look odds on for the SECL Premier Division title with only two points dropped from a possible 30 so far, five points and two games better off than second-placed Sevenoaks Town. Top of the Surrey Premier is Epsom & Ewell, with Leatherhead and Crawley AFC Reserves their title rivals Surrey Division 1 is led by Crawley AFC Development ahead of Old Tiffinians. Kent Division 1 East has Kings Hill in pole position in front of Faversham Strike Force while Betteshanger Welfare are better placed to challenge, Cray Wanderers lead 1 West from Tonbridge Angels, Petts Wood, Gravesham and Oakwood. Kent Division 2 Central sees Hollands & Blair on top after eight straight wins and pursued by Sittingbourne Reserves, Guru Nanak and Larkfield, Mersham Sports are nine points clear in 2 East and chased by Biddenden as well as Margate Development, Foots Cray Lionesses also have eight wins on the spin in 2 West to sit top ahead of Long Lane.
Staffordshire
Doveridge are Premier Division leaders but likely to be overtaken by both Cresswell Wanderers and Eccleshall. There have been seven wins on the spin for Division 1 leaders Milton United, who lead Abbey Hulton United on goal-difference but can be caught by Port Vale Reserves.
Suffolk
Holland lead a tight Premiership title race ahead of Brantham Athletic, Woodbridge Town, Needham Market Development and Stowupland Falcons. Ipswich Valley Rangers are first in the twelve-team Championship ahead of Capel Plough, while Bury Town are in a position to catch the top team.
Sussex
Saltdean United Development’s seven wins from seven has them on course to win the Premier and well placed in front of Shoreham, Eastbourne Town and Pagham. Brighton Seagals’ leadership of Division 1 is under threat from both Worthing Town and Eastbourne Borough Development.
Thames Valley Counties
Slough Town might have won nine of their ten games so far to sit top of Division 1 but Tilehurst Panthers boast a 100% record from their eight matches. Wallingford & Crowmarsh lead Division 2 but they also have title rivals hot on their heels, with Barton United still unbeaten. Easington Sports are clear favourites to win Division 3 North following eight wins on the spin, putting them as many points clear of second-placed Thame United with a game in hand. Yateley United are top of Division 3 South but only two points better off than Finchampstead from two games more, with Caversham a further six points back with two additional matches to make up. Wantage Town have won 10 of 11 outings so far in Division 3 West, Tower Hill have them in their sights, while Thatcham & Newbury Town Blues can also catch the leaders if they win all six games in hand. The Development Division sees Rotherfield United lead with 13 wins from 14, nine points clear of Berks County from one match more.
West Riding
Skipton Town’s nine wins in a row has them seven points clear of Leeds Medics & Dentists in the Premier, Leeds Modernians are playing catch-up with only five games played but victorious in all. Ilkley Town seems odds on to go up from Division 1, Leeds Hyde Park are well positioned in the second promotion place. Athletico’s 11 wins in a dozen puts them a massive 18 points clear in Division 2, although both Knaresborough Town and Bradford City U-21s are still contenders with just half as many fixtures played. Skipton Town Development’s big goal-difference has them narrowly ahead of their Lower Hopton counterparts in Division 3, while fifth-placed Field can launch a title bid with three games in hand. A perfect dozen for Eccleshill United, with 118 goals for and only two against, surely has them set to win Division 4. Goole currently occupy the second promotion position, chased by Brighouse Town, Pontefract Collieries and Wakefield Reserves.
Wiltshire
Corsham Town are setting the pace in the twelve-team league, with ten straight wins and 87 goals scored. However, none of Bemerton Heath Harlequins, FC Chippenham and Durrington can be discounted, having all dropped just three points.
