Relegation looms for Hood and St George’s
Last season’s two promoted teams, Wolves and Flanagan’s Onions, could put the final nails in the relegation coffins of Robin Hood and St George’s this weekend.Wolves are already safe for another season in the top-flight after reaching the crucial 20-point margin a couple of weeks ago and Flanagan’s are on the verge of safety on 17 points.Bottom team Robin Hood, who can only now avoid the drop on goal difference even if they win their last three matches, have virtually resigned themselves to the drop with the gap between themselves and safety too big to close. Hood’s fate could be confirmed tonight when they travel to Devonshire Rec to meet Wolves at 9pm knowing that even a draw would make relegation official.And while they are safe from the drop, Wolves still have something to play for, namely a place in next season’s Dudley Eve competition. Hood’s coach Kyle Lightbourne acknowledged after last weekend’s loss to Dandy Town that Hood have suffered from a lack of depth in their squad which, because of injury and other commitments, forced him into a playing role lately. He limped off midway through the Town match with a thigh injury which could deplete them even further.Onions, who came up last season with Wolves, could celebrate their own survival tomorrow with victory over PHC at Goose Gosling Field at 9pm. Onions have managed to stay clear of the relegation zone for most of the season based on their good start to the campaign which saw them collect 10 points from their first four matches which included narrow wins over St George’s, Robin Hood and North Village and a draw against Wolves.Onions’ slump began when champions Dandy Town brought them down to earth with a 5-2 thrashing on October 21. Since then they have collected just seven points in the league to keep themselves just ahead of the trap door. St George’s can still overtake Onions but the East Enders will have to win their last three games — starting on Sunday at home to Dandy Town — while hoping that Onions lose to PHC tomorrow and Somerset next weekend. St George’s still have to play Robin Hood in a make-up match next Thursday before ending their season at home to PHC. Hood’s last match is against North Village.In Sunday’s other matches Southampton Rangers play Somerset while league champions Devonshire Cougars will enjoy a celebration at Bernard Park where they face North Village. This match should have had greater importance for both teams but Village blew their title hopes by failing to beat Somerset last weekend to keep the race alive.
