SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE - THE BATTLE FOR PROMOTION

The battle for promotion from the Molten Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division took another twist last night with Aylesbury's 1-1 draw at Hertford Town and Chalfont St Peter's 6-0 win at Hillingdon Borough. The current league standings are as follows:

                            HOME           AWAY 
                            P   W   D   L   P   W   D   L  GF  GA GD  PTS  P/P    
1.   Chalfont St Peter      19  15  0   4   19  12  3   4  114 44 +70 84   96
2.   Aylesbury FC           18  11  4   3   19  13  4   2  90  35 +55 80   95

Third placed Tring Athletic have dropped down to 71 pts with three loses in their last six games, they do have games in hand but can only reach a total of 89 if they win all their games in hand so are all but effectively out of the race. Prior to Aylesbury's 1-1 draw at 15th placed Hertford Town they had won eight games in row with spectacular 9-0 and 10-0 wins against Kentish Town and Biggleswade United along the way. Even with these goal big wins their goal difference is still inferior to Chalfont's by 15.

Since a wobble at the end of October and beginning of November where the current table toppers lost three games on the trot they have been seemingly unstoppable with only one loss at Oxhey Jets on the 27th February. Their home record since their last loss to Leverstock Green on the 7th November reads WWWWWWWWWW with 36 goals scored and only 8 conceded.

The games between the two rivals resulted in a 0-1 win for Aylesbury at Mill Meadow on the 11th August and a 3-3 draw at Haywood Way on the 16th February.

Danny Edwards's will know it's in his Saints team's hands and all they need to do is win their remaining four games which won't be easy with a tough game against 4th placed Colney Heath on Saturday and a difficult trip to Royston Town in the final game of the season.

There is an argument that Aylesbury's run in looks easier as they have visits to 2nd bottom Hillingdon Borough and then entertain bottom of the table WGC along with Leverstock Green and Langford visiting Haywood Way. Their toughest game may be the visit to Coles Park to play Haringey Borough who despite being in 20th position posess striker Lloyd Opara who has scored 17 goals in 33 leage and cup games this season.

Remaining fixtures:
                                CHALFONT ST PETER         AYLESBURY FC
Saturday 10th April             Colney Heath (H)          Hillngdon Boro (A)         
Saturday 17th April             Leverstock Green (A)      Welwyn GC (H)
Saturday 24th April             Broxbourne Boro (H)       Leverstock Green (H)
Saturday 1st May                Royston Town (A)          Langford (H)
TBA                             -                         Haringey Brough (A)