THE fixtures in Division III paired the top four together with the matches being KKS Spartans against Aimbry while Hade Edge took on AFC Lindley.
The Spartans finished in fifth place last season, while the other three all gained promotion from Division IV.
The three teams that gained promotion are based in districts, but the Spartans have players from various parts of Huddersfield.
Originating from the old team KKS Silesia, the players and committee are now “mates” and “mates of mates”, but for their two teams they have about 45 registered players.
Their recent history records they have been based at different pubs.
Not too long ago, it was the Woodman at Bradley, but that was demolished for a Tesco and a Corals.
Then it was the Ashbrow on Bradford Road, but that turned into a restaurant, so they moved to the Sun Inn at Rastrick, but that pub was poorly positioned for a club playing at Leeds Road Playing Fields.
They have now settled at the White Horse on Leeds Road, which is far more convenient for the players and their opponents.
The story of a home base is matched by the problems faced in financing a club in “grassroots football”.
With insurance, rent for their ground and the entry fees to the League, there’s little change out of £2,000 for a club with two teams and that’s before a ball has been kicked.
Then there is kit and referee’s fees on an ongoing basis.
The club charge a £10 signing on fee and a weekly sub of £5 so the club have still to rely on the committee for other fundraising activities.
Club committee men at KKS Spartans and throughout the League deserve plenty of credit for their work.
However, they all receive some reward when their respective clubs win some silverware and could this season be KKS Spartans turn?
Based on last week’s result against League leaders Aimbry, it could well be.
A Calvert goal gave Aimbry a first half lead, but inside the first 15 minutes of the second period the game turned upside down.
Firstly, a move from the back found Tom Hall on the right, he drew the keeper and laid it on a plate for Jamie Carroll to tap into an empty net.
Five minutes later Connor Clarke played a couple of one-twos before beating a defender and hit the top corner of the net and the Spartans striker Alan Nicholl scored the third.
He was brought down on the edge of the box and took the free-kick himself and found the bottom corner.
Substitute Dave Neil completed the scoring when he chipped over the keeper from 30 yards.
The club is managed by popular ex-local footballer Bob Clarke, who has recently been joined by Eddie McLean as his assistant.
This pair have a mountain of local football knowledge and this could help the club climb into Division II.
Clarke’s only fear is that some of his young team could be attracted to other clubs playing at a higher level.
Having done this himself, he would only wish them every success even if it hindered the clubs chance of promotion.
The fourth-placed team, Hade Edge, had a narrow win over third-placed AFC Lindley.
The two met twice last season with AFC Lindley coming out on top on both occasions, but this time around Hade Edge took revenge in a game with plenty of chances. Both teams started slowly but warmed to their task.
It was AFC Lindley who took the lead following a good move down the left which created space in front of Hade Edge’s back four.
The effort on goal was blocked by defender Dalton but deflected over keeper Daisy and into the net.
Shaw almost replied for Hade Edge, but his effort was well saved and the scored remained 1-0 at the break.
Early in the second period, Lindley took control and for the first 20 minutes of the half, they carved out several chances.
A mixture of missed chances and brave defending kept the difference to just the solitary goal.
Manager Daisy then pushed Hallas further up the pitch and he scored the equaliser.
Both sides then pressed for the winner and both keepers had to be on form to prevent any more goals.
At 1-1 and time running out, Hade Edge’s manager Daisy made another change bringing on Callum Hirst, a youngster who has come through their Juniors, and when the ball broke to him on the left of the area, he fired in the winner.
There was almost an equaliser for Lindley from a late corner, but the effort went just over the bar.
The two promotion positions seem to rest with these four clubs, but the sides in sixth and seventh, Grange Moor and Upperthong, should not be written off given their games in hand.
In this division, the myth of the “curse of the column” was laid to rest by Paddock. After having their win over Grange Moor reported last week, they went on to record back-to-back wins for the first time for many a year.
In Reserve Division II there was another top of the table clash and it concerned KKS again.
They are third in this division, but they could not emulate the result of their first eleven as they went down 3-2 to divisional leaders Netherton A.
Only three matches ago, KKS played the second in the division Hepworth Reserves and drew 3-3.
These results show that they are competitive despite being nine points behind the leaders and also illustrate a possible weakness – conceding late goals.
They were two goals to the good against Hepworth with only a few minutes left, but came away only with a point.
Last week, Netherton led 2-0 but KKS mounted a fightback. Damien Murray pulled one back and then Chris Munroe scored an equaliser. Another late goal conceded again cost KKS points as Netherton scored in the last minute to claim all three points.
A further top-of-the-table clash was in Reserve Division I where Leaders Honley Reserves extended their lead at the top over Diggle Reserves to six points after two goals from Lodge and another from Howe gave them a 3-1 win.
Berry Brow Reserves are in third, a further point away, but they do have three games in hand of Honley.
Yet another top-of-the-table clash took place in Reserve Division III with a derby between the reserve teams of Skelmanthorpe and Scissett.
There were three points between them at the start of the match but on the day, leaders Skelmanthorpe were four goals better.
Needham (2). Gilbert and Glover were the marksmen and their side are now four points clear of Holmbridge Reserves who move into second after a 6-0 defeat of HV Academicals.
