Teams have time to ponder
A virtual washout of Saturday's Ridgeons League and Dolphin Autos Anglian Combination fixtures left local teams reviewing their situations with the season well into its second half and title, promotion and relegation hopes and fears crystalising, writes John Cushion.
A virtual washout of Saturday's Ridgeons League and Dolphin Autos Anglian Combination fixtures left local teams reviewing their situations with the season well into its second half and title, promotion and relegation hopes and fears crystalising, writes John Cushion.
Dereham Town are in the semi-finals of the Norfolk Senior Cup, with ambitions of winning the trophy for the third successive season, and well-placed for a top-five finish in the Ridgeons Premier. The thriving Magpies have their sights set on higher league football at their magnificent Aldiss Park.
Dereham Reserves head Division One of the Anglian Combination, although several teams in the chasing pack have games in hand.
Over at Clipbush Park, a Fakenham Town club which a week before the season started had just five players has shown great character with both senior teams playing progressively better football and getting more encouraging results.
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The Ridgeons One side remains rooted to the foot of the table, but under Mark King and Stuart Woodhouse, with assistant manager Chris Evans lending enthusiastic support, a local team which fans have always called for is making great strides.
A reserve team which gained first division status last season will inevitably return to junior football with one point from 20 games and 121 goals shipped to 13 scored, but their determination has earned them many admirers and their results are showing improvement.
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At Anglian Combination Premier Division level, Mattishall and Hindringham are in the bottom three. The Mattishall club has been hit by player shortages and behind-the-scenes changes but its first team has shown that with a little more consistency, survival is well within their reach.
Hindringham have found goals in short supply and find themselves bottom with their 22 strikes only marginally better than Mattishall's 20. Mattishall Reserves are bottom of Division Three and Hindringham Reserves fourth from bottom of Division Four.
At Wells, the Division One season has been a see-saw affair. The Seasiders are fourth from bottom, but well clear of the relegation places and with enough fire power to lift them to midtable comfort. Their reserves are in the middle of Division Four.
In Division Two, Reepham in fifth place have genuine hopes of promotion. There is a strong element here of the personnel which took Fakenham Reserves up to Division One last season.
In Division Four, Bradenham Wanderers are on target to get back to senior football, in second place and playing with great confidence.
In Division Five, Foulsham are third, a little off the promotion pace but scoring well, ready to make up ground. Their 69-goal total in 15 games is bettered only by the two teams above them.
Necton are midtable with 21 points from 18 games, and may lose ground as teams around them catch up on games played.
