Forest to the Fore!

Thursday night saw ten games across the Premier division with forty goals plundered as the race for the title, and a coveted top-three finish, gathered pace. Lea Forest, Mapledene and SS Margaret Mary were the chief beneficiaries as Harper Bell slipped up at The Oval.

It has been quite a week for the Forest, Wednesday night saw their girls team go top of their league and Thursday night their ‘league’ team were leading the way in theirs. At their Ridpool Road home, Forest eased past Alston 5-1, as did the other visitors there, Highfield and when the two met they played out a terrific and energetic 1-1 draw.

A short journey to Oval did nothing to halt Mapledene’s momentum gained from last week's double victory at the Arena. Harper Bell, once again fielding a young side of Yr4 and 5s, were ‘dene’s first opponents and they just could not contain a dynamic front three ‘interchanging like that of Liverpool’s’, according to boss, Mr Collett. Dene’s passing and fluidity was sublime and with goals coming from all over the pitch, they romped to a 7-1 win. Mapledene then took on their hosts and the opening exchanges were fiercely competitive, but a near post header and a penalty settled the visitors down. A cross-come-shot then found the top corner to make it three before a close range ‘nutmeg’ and a flick header from a throw-in saw Mapledene triumph, 5-0; serious title contenders now Mapledene.
In the remaining game at Whittington Oval, Harper Bell’s youngsters worked their little socks off and earned themselves a deserved 2-0 win.

There were fours games played across at Hollyfields, where SS Margaret Mary were in fine form as they defeated Erdington Hall, 4-0, and Thornton, 3-0. Thornton were then held to a 1-1 draw by a plucky Paget outfit before the evening concluded with Paget and Erd Hall unable to trouble the score-board.

So, after another frenetic evening in the Prem, it is Lea Forest who sit on the top rung on 32 points, 3 ahead of Harper Bell; Bell though have a game in hand. Mapledene have shot up to third and remain unbeaten with 21 points from just 9 games played and are right in the mix. SS Margaret Mary could well have a say in things too as they are also undefeated and have a unblemished record – they have only played 5 times though so have some catching up to do. Another outsider is Highfield, a strong side who are a match for anyone on their day and though they are sitting in seventh place on 11 points, they have 6 games in hand on the leaders.

Further excitement and twists and turns aplenty are sure to occur along the way as we head into April – who’s up for it most then?