AS memories of one of the worst winters in the RCD League’s history fade away, a number of teams are now realising that trying to catch up with a heavy backlog of games can have a severe effect on results.

With many players unavailable for selection due to joining professional academies, holidays, cricket and school exams, team managers quickly discover that playing two games in a week is not as easy as it might appear.

One team finding life difficult at the moment are Brighouse Town.

Having lifted the league title at Under 13 last year, Town have managed to win only six of their 13 league games so far this season, and their latest defeat to bottom of the table Meltham leaves Brighouse with an uphill task if they are to challenge for the Under 14 title.

On the other side of the coin, the result will have given Meltham a huge boost as they try hard to scramble out of the relegation zone.

Goals from Elliot Mitchell (2), Matthew Lawrence and William Thackray secured the 4-2 victory for Meltham .

Another team chasing trophies and, at the same time, trying to fit in all their games, are Golcar United Under 11s.

Having already reached the final of the League Cup, Golcar ensured a second cup final appearance when goals from Callum Denton (4), Armani Greaves (2), Anthony Collingson (3) and Corey Castle secured a 10-1 win over Hepworth United in the semi-finals of the Huddersfield Minor FA Cup.

Meanwhile, in the League, Golcar’s 100% record and Division III title hopes have taken a battering in the last week when, first, Hartshead forced a 3-3 draw and then Savile Town imposed a 2-1 defeat. Although Golcar still have a game in hand, Savile Town moved two points clear of their rivals with a solid victory over Kirkburton. Mohammed Sacha (2), Shahid Patel (2), Khan Adam, Mohammed Kashif and Ahmed Kaleel were all on target as Savile romped to a 7-0 win.

YMCA Under 12s are still on target to repeat last year’s title-winning act but, with 10 games still to play they will need to put together a strong winning run to overhaul their rivals.

In their latest game at Honley, Henry Bratby scored for the home side to keep YMCA’s nerves on edge but they were soon calmed when replies from Bradley Hall, Matthew Lindley and Sam Dawson secured a 3-1 win and another three points.

In Division II of the Under 12s, Kirkburton’s title hopes were raised when rivals 3D Dynamoes let two points slip in a 4-4 draw against Norristhorpe.

Meanwhile, Kirkburton moved into top spot thanks to a fine win over Dalton Dynamoes.

William Ainley, Kristos Kiriacou and Jacob Hanson added to Jake Surry’s hat trick to give Kirkburton a solid 6-2 victory.

Westend were rewarded for all their hard work when goals from Louis O’Connell (2), Liam Smith, Jack Keen and Cameron Pope gave them their first three-point haul of the season with a 5-1 victory over East Bowling

Next Sunday sees the first of the RCD League’s showpiece games when the Under 17s and 18s contest cup finals at Emley’s Welfare Ground.

Clifton Rangers will be hoping to lift the club’s first silverware for 10 years when they meet Rothwell in the Under 17 final which kicks off at 11.00am.

The Under 18 final between BPA Juniors and Bradford United gets under way at 1.00pm.