TWELVE months ago, Evesham United had accumulated 33 points from 22 games - and that proved a platform for a place in the end of season Play-Offs albeit only cemented with a win in the final match.

Paul West's side have already collected 11 more points having played two few games and are right on course to make a bold claim for the Division One Midlands title.

The Robins are halfway through the 40-match schedule and, unlike last term when Brackley were the runaway champions, there promises to be a ding-dong battle for supremacy this time around.

Leamington currently top the table two points clear of Evesham having played a match more. However, it's further down the table where the potential champions might lie with FA Cup heroes Chasetown having five games in hand on the leaders and only 11 points adrift.

Signing However, the Scholars have paid the price for success with two of their players signing for Port Vale and another moving to AFC Telford.

Chasetown, though, have plenty of money in the bank after their giantkilling exploits and will use it to strengthen their squad with Evesham's Gary Hay understood to be a target.

Willenhall earned a top five slot from below halfway at this stage last season and Rushall Olympic are another who will be fancying their chances of lifting themselves into the top five.

It already looks like five from ten for the Play-Offs with the likes of Leighton Town and Bishops Cleeve outsiders at this stage.

Aylesbury and Stourbridge have played the most games of the leading contenders with the latter desperate not to miss out again after being pipped by United last term.

The Robins are without a game on Saturday but should add three more points to their impressive tally next Tuesday night when they host a swift return with Berkhamsted Town.

Evesham have actually won twice as many games as they had last January when a succession of draws left them with plenty to do.

They have only drawn twice this season and won 14 of their 20 league games - a total only matched by Leamington and Stourbridge, who have suffered a huge blow after injury ruled out top scorer Mark Bellingham for the rest of the season.

However, they have moved quickly to fill the gap by signing Chasetown's former Evesham striker Lee Bullimore.

Only two of last season's leading five in the middle of January stayed there so there are bound to be many twists and turns come the end of April.

Manager West said: "If you would have said to me at the start of the season that we would be third in the table with games in hand then I would have been absolutely delighted.

"I actually showed the current table to the players last Saturday just to try and dispel any doubts after the last two games. The table shows that we are not a bad side but there is still plenty of work to be done."

Joe Clarke is unavailable next Tuesday as he serves the first of a three-match ban but Tom Warmer comes back into contention after a one-match suspension.

The match is being sponsored by Scholten Bacon and the ball by JC Autos of Honeybourne.

12:48pm Wednesday 16th January 2008

Print

Email this