Dene Surge Towards Top Three!

We knew there would be more twists and turns to come in this dramatic La Liga division and Tuesday evening provided just that with Short Heath extending their lead at the top, Mapledene taking a major towards the play-offs and the champions still fighting to take their season into June.

We’ll start at the Mapledene Arena where the leaders, Short Heath began against Brownmead. Heath were excellent throughout and playing some lovely football waltzed to a resounding 6-0 win. Heath then faced a far sterner test against a Mapledene side still harbouring play-off ambitions, but the visitors continued in the same vein as they finished against Brownmead and ‘dene were forced to defend resiliently from the outset. Mapledene had to rely on long ball counter-attacks which mainly came to nothing but one such lead to a mix up between ‘keeper and defender which allowed ‘dene’s striker, from on the floor just outside the box, to swing a leg and he watched as the ball trickled over the line into an empty net. Dene’s resilience paid off and they held on to secure an incredible backs-to-the-wall, win.
In the afternoon’s final game at the Arena, the home side, still buzzing after that victory over Short Heath, defeated a valiant Brownmead, 2-0. A clinical effort from the edge of the box and a wonder strike from just inside the Brownmead half capped off a tremendous afternoon’s work for Mapledene.

Up along the Coventry Road, Yardley were hosting Hillstone side and Gunter with the Youths opening proceedings against the latter. Boss, Mr Walmsley, was missing a few key players but his injury ravaged charges had enough to defeat a tough-tackling Gunter side, 3-1. Yardley found Gunter tough to break down, but they eventually took the lead and looked to settle down. However, Gunter quickly hit back to level and from then on, there was little to choose between the two sides until the Youths grabbed a second goal and Gunter’s resistance was broken; a third swiftly followed.
Yardley’s other game was against a Hillstone side who were fresh from a 6-1 victory over a tiring Gunter side, and it was one of those games that had 0-0 written all over it after the first few minutes. Both sides cancelled each other out with the Youths limiting ‘stone to long-distance efforts. Hillstone gaffer, Mr Flint, clearly got his tactics right going with three at the back and a couple in front which made it ultra-difficult for the champions – ‘stone were clearly happy to take a point.

So, what does it all mean? Short Heath still lead the way and now have nineteen points from nine games played, three ahead of Paget who have two games in hand. Mapledene’s six-point haul sees them leap up to fourth on fifteen points and they have played a game less than Short Heath. Yardley, having also played eight times, move up to sixth place on twelve points. Hillstone have jumped to seventh and though they are just the four points off the champions with a game in hand, it is difficult to see them extending their season beyond half-term. However, more thrills and spills to come methinks!