NEWSOME kept growing pressure on the top two, Hepworth and Uppermill, in the District League Division I by hammering 11 past Shelley.

At present, Hepworth lead Uppermill (both their games were postponed) by two points but Uppermill have three matches in hand.

Hepworth’s lead over third-placed Newsome is five points, but Newsome have two in hand. On first glance, it would favour the challengers, but on close inspection of the fixtures still to be played, it’s still in Hepworth’s own hands if they wish to win the title for a third successive season.

Why? Because Hepworth have seven games to play – two against Uppermill and two against Newsome, so there lays the answer as to who will win Division I title.

Are games in hand an advantage or a disadvantage? One way that it becomes an advantage is that when clubs catch up with these games, normally in evening matches, their opponents may not have anything to play for and may not field their best team.

On the other hand, it’s a disadvantage if, with all the extra games, injuries and tiredness play a part. Well one club will soon find out one way or the other.

There are just nine more Saturday games in March and April and Division III team Linthwaite Athletic have still 17 games to play – therefore probably at least eight night matches – well nine if you add their Groom cup semi-final, and 10 if they reach the final.

The club run only one team and that normally means a smaller squad to call on, but they will be doing their best and they still have a chance of promotion.

Linthwaite are currently 16 points behind leaders KKS Spartans, who moved top after beating Grange Moor 4-1, but Linthwaite have played seven games fewer than KKS – mathematically, they could overtake them.

The winners of Division IV will almost certainly come from Hade Edge, AFC Lindley or Aimbry.

Hade Edge have led the table for almost the whole season, but their form has been slipping recently.

They have won one and drawn one of their last four games – including a 7-3 defeat at the hands of Huddersfield United last week.

Third-placed Aimbry had a 6-0 win over Thornhill United and move to within five points of the Edge and have three games in hand.

AFC Lindley won away at Mount by 9-0 to maintain their 100% League record and remain in second spot. AFC Lindley are in a similar situation to Linthwaite in that they are involved in the Groom Cup and still have 12 League matches to fit in.

In Reserve Division I, Newsome Reserves are going out to retain the title.

They had a 7-0 win over Heyside Reserves but they must still be second favourites to Uppermill Reserves. The latter had a 3-1 win at Netherton Reserves and are still five points above Newsome, who have played one game fewer.

Uppermill have yet to travel Newsome and that match will have a big say on whether Uppermill can win this division for the first time since 2005-06.

Last season, Hepworth United Reserves entered the League and lost only twice but they failed to win the division, finishing second behind Royal Dolphins Reserves.

They still won promotion and this season, they have lost only one of their 16 fixtures in Reserve Division III, but they are still not certain to pick up a trophy.

They visited Mount Reserves last week and scored six without a reply but they didn’t pull any further away from their nearest challengers, Diggle A – 4-1 winners at Uppermill B.

Diggle A didn’t start too well but have won their last five League games. The are 10 points adrift of Hepworth who have played three games more.

Hepworth won 4-2 when the sides met earlier in the season, so today’s return fixture at Diggle could have a massive impact on the outcome.