With Christmas approaching the race for the SSMFL Championship and possible promotion to the Ryman North is hotting up. Managers and coaches always say the festive period where numerous League matches are played is a time when valuable points will be won and lost.
The season is shaping up to be as exciting as last season's when Biggleswade Town pipped unlucky Harefield United to the Championship by one just one goal. Just seven points separate joint table toppers Aylesbury FC and Tring Athletic down to Royston Town in seventh place.
The Hares are a good example of how important the Christmas period is as last season on the 27th December they went down to a 3-2 defeat to Oxhey Jets who eventually finished in 13th place. Just a draw in that match would of seen them crowned champions.
Aylesbury FC look to be the favourites as if they win the three games in hand they have on Tring Athletic they will go nine points clear. The Moles who play at the Haywood Way ground are reportedly rumoured to have the largest playing budget in the division won 4-2 at Tring on the 3rd November and face the rematch with their title rivals on Monday 28th December in what will be the SSMFL Match of the Day.
Third placed Colney Heath are the surprise team of the season being only one point behind the table toppers. However, their form had dipped of late being beaten 0-4 at home to Aylesbury and 3-0 in the local derby with Hatfield Town. Ian Cooper has been firing the goals in for Colney with 16 goals in 16 league games.
Fourth placed Chalfont St Peter suffered a blip in form towards the end of October and the beginning of November but have recently got back to winning ways by beating Brimsdown Rovers and W.G.C.
Relegated from the Southern League last season Dunstable Town are back in 5th place with Broxbourne Borough and Royston Town following up in 6th and 7th respectively. Boro have acted quickly in replacing departing manager Tony Faulkner with ex-reserve manager and player Mark Beeles who enjoyed his first league win in his first match in charge 2-0 at Kentish Town.
I know its predictable but the cold end can only see Aylesbury FC winning the league title with the players they have. With their rivals Aylesbury United rooted at the foot of the Southern League Midlands Division the two clubs may swap leagues come summer 2010.
Current league table - http://football.mitoo.co.uk/LeagueTab.cfm?TblName=Matches&DivisionID=7226&LeagueCode=SMID2009
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