Sunday League: Predictions

PREMIER DIVISION: The most competitive premier division for many seasons with any one of four teams in contention and the remaining four capable of taking points from title chasing teams.

AFC Rangers: Having a fine season, topping the league at the moment, only lost one game, high scoring side with Jimmy Hill and Aaron King constantly finding the back of the net. A tough side to beat. Third place finish will be disappointing.

Bull and Jacks: Newly promoted, currently in one of the relegation slots. Good footballing side but desperately need a striker. Solid defence. I can’t see them avoiding the drop in seventh place.

Harpenden Arms: Another promoted side, started the season as though they were untouchable, then fell into a run of five defeats in six games as they struggled to get their full strength team out. Good cup bet but only fifth place finish.

Nicholas Breakspear OB: Having a fine season, another one of the front-runners. Good defence but not scoring as many goals as usual, only Cain Davey reaching double figures. Already dropped seven points. Will just miss out on the title when finishing in second position.

Oaks: Moved up a division, struggling to keep out of the relegation zone, should just miss out. Harry Hunt’s goals winning vital points. Sixth place finish is all they can expect.

Skew Bridge: Fighting to retain their title. Already dropped more points than last season. Very tight defence, but I’m sticking my neck out to say they will become Champions but only just.

Six Bells: Struggling at the bottom of the table. One of the few sides to defeat Skew Bridge. Very young side, have yet to replace goalscoring legend Martin Gentleman. I can’t see them avoiding bottom position.

Vision: Having a good season, battling it out for title chasing points. When at full strength they are the team to beat. The class and goals by Adam Wallace will always keep them on the front-foot. Fourth place finish a disappointment.

DIVISION ONE: Brookmans Park: Another struggling season for Park, Desperately need a marksman, defence overworked. Third from bottom last season, will drop a place, finishing in ninth slot.

Church End: Yet to win a game this season, only 12 goals to their credit. I can’t see them finishing in any position other on the bottom rung.

FC Potters Bar: Capable of the odd shock result, but not consistent enough to upset title-chasing teams. Fourth place finish will be a good achievement.

London Colney Cannon: First season in the league. Although only two wins to their credit they have taken vital points from some of the more fancied sides. Seventh place finish.

Nicholas Breakspear OB Res: Will give any of the teams a good game, capable of upsetting the odds but not consistent enough. Will do well to finish in eighth slot.

Phoenix: Another team that is capable of taking points from more fancied sides. Good all round footballing side with Danny Burrows in good goalscoring form. Sixth place finish well within their grasp.

PSV: Having a great season and one of the title challengers along with Skew Bridge. High scoring side with Craig Taylor, Greg Deacon and Ryan Houghton in consistent goalscoring form. If Craig Taylor stays fit for the fight they will be among the medals, in second position.

Precision: Disappointing start to the season, expected to be one of the front-runners, have already lost four games. Fifth position will be a disappointment.

Skew Bridge Res: Top of the table at the money, I can’t see them being shifted. High scoring and very tight defence plus the Simon Beazley goals will see them become champions, but only just!

Wheathampstead Icarus: Early pace-setters in the division, having an excellent season. Not quite championship material. Will cap an excellent season finishing in third place.

DIVISION TWO: AFC Welwyn: First season in the league, slightly out of their depth, yet to record a win (or a point) from their opening five games. Bottom position for them.

Herts Mauritian: Struggled last season, having a much better season. Ricky Figg in fine form in goal and Darren Cavaree reliable marksman. Should finish in fourth place.

Phoenix Res: Good battling side, need a marksman. Will push most sides all the way but no threat to the title fancied sides when finishing in fifth position.

Queens Head Sandridge: Who said the Queens were dead and buried. The old heads and a few young legs see them playing the best football in the division. Sam Ledger and his boys will become champions!

Veer Dhara: A change of name sees the former O’Neills having a fine season, topping the division at the moment, playing some good football, they are hard to beat. My tip to become runners-up.

Vision Res: Having a fine season, more organised than of recent seasons, having defeated my tip to become champions twice this season. Junior Almeida a marksman to watch. Third position will be a disappointment for Carlos’ boys.

DIVISION THREE: Blacksmiths Arms: Cup success has seen the Arms already played ten cup games, so a back-log of games could prove costly. Good all round team with an excellent defence. Could upset my prediction when finishing in fifth slot.

Brookmans Park Res: Having their best season to date, yet to taste defeat in seven league games. Excellent defence and marksmen aplenty. My tip to become champions.

Colney Heath Rangers: Should win half of their games in what would be a good season for them. Good defence but need more punch up front. Finishing in ninth place.

Cottonmill: Top goalscorers in the division, and topping the table at the moment. Any one of three front-men, Lee Sturgess, Pat Nyamangunda and James Watt likely match-winners. Runners-up is a good bet.

Dukes: Was expected to be one of the front-runners, but Richard Potter’s boys have been performing slightly under-par. Fail to use their right flank when playing at home. Tight defence, need a regular marksmen. Seventh place finish will be disappointing.

Herts Athletic: A good all round team, one of the title-chasing sides. Joe Meija in fine form up front. A must for third place finish.

Marshalswick Rovers: Struggling at the wrong end of the table, although they have picked up some shock points, David Hudson and Alastair Bart are two threatening front men but need help at the back. Will finish in one of the relegation slots in eleventh position.

Oaks Res: Worst defence in the division, one win and one drawn game all season. I cannot see them moving out of the bottom position.

Old Albanians: Much changed side, good footballing outfit. A threat to title chasing teams with their ability to gain shock results. Sixth position is well within their grasp.

Radlett Village: Battling to avoid one of the relegation positions. Lack of goal power with only Tom Black threatening. Should just miss out on relegation, finishing in tenth position.

St Albans Royals: One of the stalwarts of the division, capable of grinding out the odd good result. Eighth place finish will be disappointing for the Royals.

Wheathampstead ‘89: Jim Lynch’s boys are enjoying a better season and he thinks runners-up place is well within their grasp. But despite James Lynch and Lee Bennett’s goals it will be fourth place for them.

DIVISION FOUR: AFC Mymms: Struggling at the foot of the division at the moment. No goal power, their top marksman on five goals. Should climb out of the bottom position to finish in tenth place.

Brookmans Park A: The battling Park side have already won more games than last term. No threat to title chasing sides. Fourth place finish will be an excellent effort.

Camp KBK: Newly promoted, enjoying a good season, more than holding their own in the division. Could do with more power up front. Fifth place well within their grasp.

Greenwood Park: One of the best footballing sides in the division, battling it out for honours. With Nick Fanshaw’s class and Matt West goals the Park are a good bet for runners-up place.

Harpenden Colts OB: Still undefeated after seven games. In excellent form this season with the tightest defence in the division. A real battle ahead to finish in third place.

Phoenix A: In a run of good form with four wins on the trot which should see them comfortably hold onto the seventh place.

Queens Head Sandridge Res: The old boys of the division, still playing attractive football but tire late on in games. It’s a good job Chris Wickens is up-front to score the goals or they could be in trouble. Sixth place will be an achievement.

St Albans IFC: Struggling to avoid one of the relegation positions. Desperately need a marksman. Will do well to finish in ninth slot.

St Albans Rangers: First season in the league, made an instant impact having won all of their opening eight games. Chris Torrens proved a fine signing with 15 goals to his credit. My tip to become champions.

The Snug Bar: A backs-to-the season for Snug although having tasted victory three times this season it will be bottom place finish for them.

White Horse: No threat of relegation, just a battle for points to climb up the table for a mid-table position. Eighth place will be a good achievement.

DIVISION FIVE: Athletico Auat: Having a much improved season than last term. Ashlee Kissiedo in constant goalscoring form, enjoying some good games. Sixth place will be well achieved.

Bradmore Rovers: Expected to climb up the league with their fine football, taking them to finish in third position.

Bricket Wood: Already won more games than last season and despite Andrew Alsop’s goals they won’t be able to avoid the bottom place.

George Redbourn: Doing better than last season, one of the better mid-table teams. Should hold on to the fifth place.

Harpenden Colts OB Res: Stuck at the bottom of the division at the moment, should just about climb up one place to finish in eleventh spot.

Jersey Farm: Expected to do better this season, no threat of relegation but will have to look over their shoulder if they fall into a losing run. Seventh place should be no problem.

Marquis of Granby: Should win over half their games, thanks to Martin Smith goals when finishing in eighth position.

Nicholas Breakspear 90: First season in the league, doing reasonably well with the odd shock result. Cameron Leigrave a marksman in form with 13 goals. Ninth place a good bet.

Stonewood: First season in the League, in the wrong division, too strong for their opponents, having won all their 12 league games top goalscorers and best defence in the division. A cert to become champions.

The Ridge:Capable of some good results, not promotion contenders. David Bailey in top goalscoring form. Should pick up the fourth place.

Wheathampstead Swan: Well run club, enjoying a fine season. Alex Vaughan their match-winner up front with 17 goals. It will be a good achievement when finishing in second place.

White Horse Res: A battle ahead to avoid one of the relegation spots. Should just about hang onto tenth place.