With eight FA Premier League Division 1 places up for grabs for the eventual winners of the eight feeder Regional Leagues, we make use of the festive break in action to reflect on the state of play.
Stevenage lead the Eastern League with only 3 points dropped from Billericay Town, who have also played a game more, while Haringey Borough are best-placed of the chasing pack.
Long Eaton United might have defeated FAWPL opponents in the FA Cup but it looks like they’ve a test on their hands to take the East Midlands title. With 2 points dropped, they are behind Bedworth United, who have maximum points from their 7 games.
AFC Wimbledon have stormed 14 points clear in the London & South East Premier, with just 3 points lost in 13 outings. FA Cup giant-killers, London Corinthians look likeliest to mount a challenge but may have too much ground to make up unless the Dons falter.
Pictured – AFC Wimbledon
Crewe Alexandra boast an even larger lead in the North West with a 16-point advantage, having won all 11 fixtures, averaging over 5 goals a game. Second-placed Burnley have only been beaten once but like several other sides, have something of a backlog to make up.
Brighouse Town are 8 points ahead in the North East title race with 28 points from a possible 30 but Barnsley also remain unbeaten and can get to within striking distance thanks to a couple of games in hand.
Basingstoke Town are at the summit of the Southern League and have only dropped points in a draw with Oxford City, whom along with Milton Keynes City are half a dozen points short of the leaders. But Marlow are the other side yet to taste defeat, although behind with their programme due to an impressive FA Cup run.
Pictured – Basingstoke Town (Copyright © 2015 Basingstoke Town Ladies Football Club)
Marine Academy Plymouth’s leadership in the South West could be under threat, as the unbeaten pair of Brislington and Torquay United plus Bishops Lydeard can all catch them.
TNS dramatically missed out on the West Midlands championship last year and although they are the one remaining unbeaten team, they sit behind both Crusaders and Kingshurst Sporting Club.
Although the Greater London and South East Counties only feed into the London & South East Premier, it feels unfair to overlook two long-established competitions. So, in pole position in the former is AFC Wimbledon Development, pursued by their Watford counterparts, while Parkwood Rangers are top of the latter by a margin of 2 points from Meridian.
Pictured (top) – Crewe celebrate a goal against Manchester Stingers. (Photo: Nicholas Pearce)
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