Mid-season review - Division Two

Let’s start with the league’s three newest clubs, MILL HILL, BARNOLDSWICK RESERVES and BAMBER BRIDGE RESERVES.

The former joined us from the East Lancashire League and had assembled an impressive squad, with ex-Chorley player Louis Almond among their ranks.

Groundsharing with Darwen on a 3G pitch, they smashed 29 goals in eight games in August to hit the ground running.

One of those was a 6-0 demolition of title hopefuls Pause United, still their only defeat of the season.

When they did their talking on the pitch, they seemed unstoppable hitting Caton for 15 goals in two games and seven away at Charnock Richard Reserves.

They’re winless in five matches though and an unfortunate points deduction means they have work to do to stay in the promotion race.

Sudden changes of personnel at any level of football are hard to respond to, but especially in feeder league football.

BARNOLDSWICK RESERVES suffered that fate when barely days into the season, months of hard work preparing behind the scenes unravelled.

They soldiered on with a threadbare squad but by the end of November, they admitted defeat and resigned from the league. We wish everyone well.

It's been a better picture at Irongate as BAMBER BRIDGE RESERVES got on with the task in hand and are handily poised for a promotion battle.

A key to that mission will be keeping striker Lewis Pilgrim in the squad and firing – he’s plundered 24 goals already to get him noticed by the first team, who play in the Northern Premier League’s top flight, a jump of six divisions.

Dugout changes are a fact of life and at CATON UNITED last year’s Division Two manager of the year Adam Garnett stepped aside with Richard Close, formerly of Kendal United and Walney Island, taking over.

He's steadied the ship somewhat and with Tommy Varey and Close’ son Ryan banging them in at the right end, they could yet better last year’s 10th placed finish.

WALNEY ISLAND had a tremendous start, winning their first three matches and went into the Christmas break with two consecutive wins.

It's the bit between those dates that’s been the problem – they lost five in a row in October and November.

They’ll have to go some to match last year’s fourth placed finish but with a fair wind – there’s always a fair wind off Walney – don’t bet against them.

HAWCOAT PARK were their latest victims but that 4-2 defeat was a rare blip for Park who are seventh, a far cry from last year’s wooden spoon season.

Charley Thompson has hit 10 goals as Hawcoat secured twice as many wins as last season even before Christmas.

A 2-0 win at Bamber Bridge Res in October was an eye-catching result and they could yet gatecrash second spot.

Currently in that coveted spot are KENDAL UNITED who simply don’t do draws – 12 wins and four defeats from their 16 games so far.

Jamie Harris has 16 goals and Jamie Looker has five in his last six games – including a crucial goal over promotion rivals Mill Hill in December.

They’re purring nicely.

THORNTON CLEVELEYS RES are in eighth and are dangerous opponents for anyone.

Having taken the step up to Division Two from Reserve Division One as champions following the first team’s elevation to the North West Counties League, they have hit nine past Galgate and six past Garstang Res.

But like any reserve side, they are bound by availability higher up the food chain.

Keeping a settled squad will be crucial – they still have Mill Hill and Pause to host come the end of April.

They are the highest placed reserve side in the division with EUXTON VILLA RES, CHARNOCK RES and GARSTANG RES in 10th, 12th and 14th respectively.

On their new 4G surface, Euxton Villa Res have a much better record at home compared to away and that will need to improve if they are to rein in the sides above them.

The same can be said for Charnock who beat their near rivals 3-1 in August to temporarily go joint top after two games, Ian Billington scoring against his former side.

They remain five points ahead of Garstang Res who have endured a difficult season with just three wins, all at home, against Charnock, Galgate and Stoneclough.

They have the distraction of a Richardson Cup second round match at home to Askam this weekend to try to get up a head of steam.

In the league, they’ll be looking over their shoulders at GALGATE who have two wins to their name, at home to Hawcoat Park and away at Walney Island.

They’ve suffered some heavy defeats but have manfully stuck at it despite it all, with a trip to Dalton United this weekend to try to start the calendar year in a positive mood.

In Scott McDonald and Robbie Sanderson, DALTON UNITED have two excellent forwards – McDonald the ex-Vickerstown and Ulverston man – and only a lack of consistency has cost them a top half spot thus far. They could easily launch a January surge.

Like Hawcoat Park, STONECLOUGH are enjoying a much better campaign in 2024/25 and lay in wait in sixth going into January.

They lost out on penalties to CMB in the Lancashire FA Shield having beaten Blackpool Wren Rovers and Askam United in previous rounds.

That cup form in league matches could yet see an exciting end to the season just off the M61.

STOREYS finished seventh last term and have improved on that so far, up to third and have 10-goal Joe Wareing in their ranks.

They’ve been involved in three 4-3 matches yet curiously only have a goal difference of 2+, a strange occurrence bearing in mind they have won 10 and only lost five of their 17 games so far.

They still have PAUSE UNITED to play away – an unenviable task given the form of Aaron Halliwell’s pace-setters so far.

A fixture pile-up in April and May arguably cost them promotion last year – but they look set to go one better this time.

They lead the table by 14 points and have only lost once – that 6-0 opening day drubbing at Mill Hill.

Zach Clark and Ben Roberts have hit 40 goals between them in league and cup and they have quality throughout.

Recent addition Paul Jarvis has AFC Fylde, Lancaster City and Chorley on his CV.

It would take a Newcastle United circa 1996-style collapse for them to fail this time round…surely not?