Happy Heathens Top for Winter!

Short Heath, Yardley and champions, Abbey, all made statements about their title credentials on Tuesday as all three schools bagged six points ahead of the impending winter break. And after their double whammy, Short Heath head into the darker nights top of the pile having accrued 15 points from their first six games.

The Heathens opened up at Hollyfields with a hard-fought 2-1 win over St Margaret Mary who were making a belated league debut this season having suffered at the hands of the month's wet weather. Corpus Christi were also making their league bow this evening and they also suffered defeat to Short Heath - the Heathens running out 5-0 winners. In the evening's other game, St Margaret Mary narrowly won the battle of the debutantes, 2-1.

Across at Harvey Road, Yardley's Youths were entertaining Ward End and Blakenhale. The Youths took their season tally to four wins out of four with two emphatic victories, 7-0 against Ward End and 9-0 against Blakenhale. Blakenhale it has to be said travelled over to Yardley with a depleted squad. Ward End didn't mind that though and also taking their league bow this evening, snatched all three points with a late penalty in a 3-2 win over 'hale.

Waverley were delighted to finally stage matches this season following a string of waterlogged postponements and they welcomed champions, Abbey to Yardley Wood Road and it was to prove a tough evening for the home side. A back-to-full-strength Abbey, following last week's fielding of Year 5 boys, emerged with six points and were impressive as they defeated Waverley 7-0 and fellow guests, St Bernadette's, 2-0. Bernie's boss Mr M-J was just happy to field a full team as less than two hours before kick-off had only five players. The seven who take to the field made it worthwhile as they recorded their first win of the season defeating the Wavers, 7-3.

Parent's evening put paid to Featherstone's trip to Shard End where hosts, Timberley and Colebourne faced off in a stand-alone fixture. The fixture was the Coles' seventh of the season whereas in contrast, it was the Timbers first and the home side recorded a 3-1 victory.

La Liga now breaks for winter, a shame as so many sides have played so few games but as the clocks go back, Short Heath lead the way, three points clear of Yardley who have two games in hand. SSPP lie third on nine points from their opening four fixtures, whilst champions Abbey are three points further adrift having also played four times. League favourites, Hillstone also have six points but have only played twice. So much to play for, so much to look forward to - roll on the spring!