In mid-December I got my first taste of the Northants Combination when I watched Roade and Moulton battle it out in a brilliantly entertaining game. Two Saturdays back I took in my second Northants Combination game as Blisworth performed a demolition job on Corby Pegasus and, although the game was a lot more one-sided than Roade v Moulton, it was still a good game to watch. Having enjoyed both games, I took a closer look at the league table and quickly realised that the championship was turning into a two-horse race. I had already had a close-up view of both contenders, Roade and Blisworth. The more I looked at the table and the remaining fixtures, the more it became clear that this could turn into a fascinating run-in to the season that may well go down to the wire.
The current situation is that Roade lead the table by 7 points. However, second-placed Blisworth do have two games in hand and the sides have yet to meet at Blisworth. Add to that the fact that Blisworth have won the last four contended titles (the last two have been voided) and that Blisworth won 2-1 at Roade earlier in the season, and you soon get to see that this race is far from over. Goal difference could come into it, but even that is extremely close at the moment. Blisworth edge it by 1 goal, having scored 66 to Roade's 65. Both sides have conceded 19. Current form also has the sides quite evenly matched. Roade have won seven straight since the defeat to Blisworth. For their part, Blisworth's 5-0 defeat of Corby on Saturday was their ninth on the bounce.
If you were to take their remaining fixtures, all of which are against teams that they have already played once, and apply the same result as the first match, it gets even tighter. In fact, it would leave them level on 66 points each. Of course, there's nothing scientific in that method and, as the season draws to a conclusion, there will be ups and downs for both teams. Quite interestingly, there are four teams who have to play both Blisworth and Roade in the coming weeks. Corby Stewart & Lloyds, Wollaston Victoria, Woodford United and Harpole could all have a big say in where the title ends up.
On paper, the key game is the fixture between the sides which, as yet, has no scheduled date. If we go back through recent history, since Blisworth were promoted in 2012, it is fair to say that Roade have not fared too well against their local rivals - less than 3 miles between the grounds. In fact, in 15 meetings (which includes the game earlier this season), Blisworth have won 11, there have been 3 draws and just the one victory for Roade. On the plus side, that one win did come quite recently and on the road, in the 2018-19 campaign. Lee Broome and Ben Paul scoring for Roade, Ross Arundell for Blisworth. The game also saw Lee Abrams pick up a red card for Blisworth. Kettering Nomads, who finished as runners-up, were the only other team to beat Blisworth that season, doing the double in fact.
So, which way will it go this season? Well, your guess is as good as mine. It's tempting to make predictions but I recommend people should get along to some of the games and enjoy the run-in themselves, especially the clash between Blisworth and Roade. That promises to be an absolute belter but every game these two teams play from now on will be crucial. Any dropped points will no doubt be seized upon by the other team. It's going to be fascinating.
The current situation is that Roade lead the table by 7 points. However, second-placed Blisworth do have two games in hand and the sides have yet to meet at Blisworth. Add to that the fact that Blisworth have won the last four contended titles (the last two have been voided) and that Blisworth won 2-1 at Roade earlier in the season, and you soon get to see that this race is far from over. Goal difference could come into it, but even that is extremely close at the moment. Blisworth edge it by 1 goal, having scored 66 to Roade's 65. Both sides have conceded 19. Current form also has the sides quite evenly matched. Roade have won seven straight since the defeat to Blisworth. For their part, Blisworth's 5-0 defeat of Corby on Saturday was their ninth on the bounce.
If you were to take their remaining fixtures, all of which are against teams that they have already played once, and apply the same result as the first match, it gets even tighter. In fact, it would leave them level on 66 points each. Of course, there's nothing scientific in that method and, as the season draws to a conclusion, there will be ups and downs for both teams. Quite interestingly, there are four teams who have to play both Blisworth and Roade in the coming weeks. Corby Stewart & Lloyds, Wollaston Victoria, Woodford United and Harpole could all have a big say in where the title ends up.
On paper, the key game is the fixture between the sides which, as yet, has no scheduled date. If we go back through recent history, since Blisworth were promoted in 2012, it is fair to say that Roade have not fared too well against their local rivals - less than 3 miles between the grounds. In fact, in 15 meetings (which includes the game earlier this season), Blisworth have won 11, there have been 3 draws and just the one victory for Roade. On the plus side, that one win did come quite recently and on the road, in the 2018-19 campaign. Lee Broome and Ben Paul scoring for Roade, Ross Arundell for Blisworth. The game also saw Lee Abrams pick up a red card for Blisworth. Kettering Nomads, who finished as runners-up, were the only other team to beat Blisworth that season, doing the double in fact.
So, which way will it go this season? Well, your guess is as good as mine. It's tempting to make predictions but I recommend people should get along to some of the games and enjoy the run-in themselves, especially the clash between Blisworth and Roade. That promises to be an absolute belter but every game these two teams play from now on will be crucial. Any dropped points will no doubt be seized upon by the other team. It's going to be fascinating.
 |  |
RSS Feed