Manchester Walking Football May 2024

All Reports By Kevin Williams

Week 1 – Over 70s Division 1 & Over 60s Divisions 1 & 2

Over 70s Report

Table Division 1

It was a day of very few goals in the top division of the 70s on Wednesday, but not few enough for Blackpool Senior Seasiders stalwart Steve Hyde’s liking, as the Seasiders found when crashing to three 1-0 defeats, before sharing two goals with Tameside in their final game.

Manchester Corinthians took a huge step towards claiming the Championship by conceding no goals, and scoring two on their way to 8 points and a five point lead with just four games remaining.

Both Bury Relics and Rochdale AFC Strollers have suffered defeats just the once in this campaign, but it’s the draws that have limited their ambitions to the runners up spot at best, although Tameside Striders Blues may still have something to say in that debate, just a further 3 points behind. Three rounds down, one to go.

Over 60s Report

Leaders Wakefield Wanderers were pegged back at the top of Division 1 on a blustery day at Heywood, by virtue of four draws; however they still sit at the head of the pile and will head into the final day’s play quietly confident of picking up some silverware.

Both Bolton Wanderers Blues [with 8 points gained on the day] and Fleetwood Town Flyers [6 points] closed the gap on the day, to leave the final day looking a mouth watering proposition. A three point blanket would cover the 3 title contenders.

Kingsmaid’s predicament continues to emphasise the quality of this division, although taking a point from the leaders will have given Denis Johnson and company a little bit of satisfaction. They will be looking to secure their top division berth for the Autumn season, as Bury Relics Whites two points on the day doesn’t look enough to save them from the drop. Famous last words, and I’m sure those lovely lads from the Bury club will be looking to prove me wrong!

Over 60s 02.05.24 Wakefield Wanderers v Bury Relics Whites. Photo By Keith Hayes

Tables Divisions 1 & 2

It’s a fractionally closer end to the season in Division 2, with three clubs separated by just 2 points, although top of the table Panthers also have a potentially crucially superior goal difference as a cushion.
The Panthers leapfrogged to the top courtesy of two wins, including a narrow win over Rochdale AFC Strollers, who slip to third but still have more than a passing interest in the title deciders next month. This game was decided by a single goal, a well worked free kick routine early on.

Blackpool Senior Seasiders clean sheets on the day contributed to their 6 point haul, and they complete the trio of title hopefuls.

Manchester Corinthians Reds season improves month on month, but it is a step to far for them to contest the title this time around. They will have to plan for another season in this division unless Preston North End Senior Whites can perform a Houdini act and gather 7 more points than the Reds in just four fixtures next month. Another fascinating finale awaits.

Week 2 – Over 70s Division 2 & Over 60s Divisions 3 & 4

Over 70s Report

Table Division 2

Burnley Clarets 70’s are currently enjoying a quite amazing run of 28 unbeaten games in the process of topping the 2nd Division of that age group. Conceding just the two goals in that time is testimony not only to their excellent goalkeeper John Finn, but the entire squad.

They keep finding the target at the other end too, Dave Stobbs and Keith Harvey strikes clinching crucial wins in the latest round of games, to leave the Clarets four points clear with four to play.

Clinging onto their coat tails are Preston North End Senior Whites and Salcom, who both lie four points off the top and might just be running out of games to catch the leaders. Both sides suffered damaging defeats on Wednesday, which only goes to highlight the importance of Burnley’s ability to salvage points, even if only by a draw now and then.

Rochdale AFC Striders gave themselves a glimmer of hope when beating Salcom in the final game of the day, and trail Bolton Arena by two points in the wooden spoon contest; that fixture should be interesting come early June.

Over 60s Report

Rochdale AFC Striders fate was all but sealed yesterday on a day when everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. It doesn’t help when you have to play teams like Winstanley Walkers who sealed promotion to Division 2 with four games to spare.

The Wigan club will do well going up a step, and it would be a brave man who bet against them making more progress in December. Twice they put four goals past their hapless opponents, and netted twice in each of the other two games.
Twelve goals in four games is very rare, Division 2, you have been warned!

The Moston Brook FC lads will be pleased with their haul of 7 points yesterday, and whilst Bolton Wanderers Whites fell victim to the Winstanley juggernaut in their final game, they picked up enough points elsewhere to almost guarantee runners up spot.
Burnley Clarets should remain in this division, sitting four points off the bottom with four games remaining.

Tables Divisions 3 & 4

With five games remaining in Division 4, the 9 point gap between third placed Wakefield Wanderers Whites and top dogs Bury Relics Blues isn’t impossible to close, but I wouldn’t bet YOUR money on it happening.

Bury Relics Blues are unbeaten, and it would take a calamity for them to fall short now. However second placed Ribble Valley are just the one win off the Bury club and that fixture will be pivotal to the final positioning in this league. Key to Bury’s top of the tree placing were victories against both of these rivals yesterday.

Salcom and Bolton Arena can play out their remaining fixtures fairly certain that the miracle that Roach require to avoid bottom spot is unlikely to occur. The Dynamos inability to find the net is a problem unlikely to be fixed by mid June.

In the fixture between Wakefield Wanderers Whites and Roach Dynamos, the Dynamos were a player short through injury. Wakefield sportingly agreed to play only five themselves, well done lads [Ed]

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