Week ending 23rd December by Mason Norton

The reduced sizes of Everards Brewery Divisions One & Two means that teams in those divisions do not have so many fixtures remaining, and so as such, there were only four games yesterday between the two divisions. However, in Division One, the dial in the title race swung even more firmly towards leaders Anstey Town. They were already set to finish 2023 as the Christmas leaders regardless of yesterday's results, but they consolidated their advantage further still, as they won and two of their rivals lost. Town came through a tough game at Ingles Development 3-2, with Jordan Small scoring a brace and Harry Burton also scoring, Luke Allard and Jake Turner for Ingles. 


That restored their lead over second-placed Hinckley LR Reserves to eight points. Leicester Road had reduced it to five after they were awarded a walkover in midweek by the Management Committee for a game a few weeks ago where Barrow Town Reserves had failed to fulfil, but Road came undone in their promotion six-pointer on Saturday at home to Leicester Atletico. Atletico took the lead, but Road equalised in the second half through Josh King, before Atletico restored their lead. That was then followed by late drama, as Road threw everything forward, and in the last minute, a home attacker was fouled in the area and referee Mr Cornes pointed to the spot. The ensuing penalty was however missed, and Atletico clung on for the 2-1 win. Road sit second, Atletico third, three points behind with a game in hand, but also an inferior goal difference. 


Dunton & Broughton United, meanwhile, suffered their second straight defeat, losing 3-1 at Birstall United Reserves, Blake Boulter (2) and Alfie Shipley for Birstall, Noel Gilbert for DBU, who are eight points behind Leicester Road in the promotion race with three games in hand. Anstey Town, meanwhile, look well-clear, and five wins in their last seven League games will seal the title.


There was almost an upset in the sole game in Everards Brewery Division Two, as second-placed St Patricks found themselves 4-3 down at half-time away to Desford & Caterpillar Reserves. Pats though dug in and scored twice without reply in the second half to win 5-4. Patricks' scorers were Jack Hickey (2), Mac Bott, Aaron Love and Joshua Ridley, Harry Jarvis (2), Lochlan Murray and Jack Spence the scorers for Desford. Patricks are now level on points with leaders Loughborough Students Development, but have played a game more, and have a vastly inferior goal difference. 


That win actually ensured that Patricks finish 2023 as leaders of Div2, as their 2 December game at home to Rothley Imperial, which had finished 2-2, was overturned and St Patricks awarded a walkover win by the Management Committee after Rothley were found to be in breach of competition rules. St Patricks are two points clear at the top, though Loughborough Students Development have a game in hand in second. Only Mountsorrel Amateurs in third can catch them. The game on February 17 between Loughborough Students and St Patricks at Holywell Park looks set to be the title decider. 


That's it for the two divisions for a bit. There's no action next weekend, and focus turns in the New Year to the Chairman's Trophy, a group format competition designed to give teams in Divisions One and Two extra games in the second half of the season, and also to the County Cups, with the quarter-finals of the Saturday Intermediate Cup and Saturday Trophy on January 6. Taking a rain-check, the promotion situation for the two divisions has been mentioned above. At the bottom of those divisions, Barrow Town Reserves remain pointless at the bottom of Div1, and Sporting Markfield are seven points adrift of Holwell Sports Reserves in the other relegation spot. There's no relegation in Div2, but Loughborough look set to finish bottom of the LSL and the wooden spoon for the second successive season. League action for Div1 and Div2 is scheduled to return on Saturday 20 January.


So it'll be just a Ramble Round the Premier next week. Meanwhile, a number of local clubs will be playing traditional charity games on Boxing Day and during the festive period- please consult social media for further details, but feel free to come down, give a bit of money to worthy local causes, sample some beer and mince pies and see some famous names of the LSL- past and present- play ridiculously out of position or try to roll back the years...


Ramble Round will be sparing the blushes of certain individuals by definitely not covering those games! But see us next week, as we see who finishes 2023 feeling hot or feeling cold... 


On behalf of everyone here at the Ramble, and from everyone involved in the Everards Leicestershire Senior League, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas.