We have just played our final match of November to conclude our busiest ever month – playing 22 NSDCA matches and recording a 50% success rate, with 8 wins, 4 draws, 8 losses and 2 derbies.
After collecting 7 of the 9 NSDCA trophies last season, it is looking like we could be empty handed this season based on the current league tables.
While the club continues to grow, now with over 80 members, it is great to see increased competition from the other clubs who will all be trying to stop the biggest club walking off with all the trophies again. It is looking likely that many clubs will feature in the 2025/26 NSDCA Honours Board.
In division 1, Alsager “A” and Holmes Chapel “A” appear to be the strongest teams, while Macclesfield are having a super season after being promoted. The three Crewe teams are having a tough time, with defending champions Crewe B surprisingly involved in the wooden spoon contest. Newcomers Northwich pitched themselves into the top flight mainly to avoid excessive travel, bring some fresh blood into the league.
Division 2 is likely to be very keenly contested with Cheddleton A probably the favourites, along with Stafford currently unbeaten. Crewe’s three teams continue to knock spots off each other while Alsager “B” look very comfortable. Newcastle voluntarily took promotion from div 3 last season and have found it hard going so far after five games, but with the arrival of a new top board – rated over 2000 – are likely to climb the table soon.
Division 3 looks like being a one horsed race with Holmes Chapel B head and shoulders above the rest. Their team is rated as highly as all teams in Div 2 and appear to be heading back there after being relegated last season. Crewe H and Alsager D have been cut off at the bottom of the table and their early December clash has been postponed due to 6 Crewe H players being unavailable, which seems to defy logic for a club boasting 80 members.
Division 4 is the hardest section to call as the top five teams are sepated by just one point. Gables B, Kidsgrove B and Crewe I currently have identical records of 6 pts from 5 matches, while Crewe J have the incredible score of 6 pts from 6 games having drawn all 6 !. The team currently 5th – Cheddleton C – could jump to the top of the table if they win on Monday against joint leaders Gables B, while any other result puts the Gables on top of the pile. Great credit must go to Chris Hankey for his development of the Gables Junior Club, who could well be heading to great success in the not too distant future.
Division 5 appears to be a two horsed race, with Meir holding the aces with a perfect start to the season with 5 wins and Cheddleton D tucked in just behind on 9pts from 5 matches and unbeaten too. It is wonderful to see all 5 divisions with at least 7 teams providing a much better balance of fxtures than recent seasons.
There has only been one match played in the knockout competitions so far with Crewe Perry 1 sneaking through against Gables Perry 1, while Cheddleton have progressed from the 1st round following Fenton having to concede.