Brian Hargrave goes 'inside' again, and enters a world of dreams ...
In Group A -with runaway 100% group leaders Manchester -Pontefract having secured the group title and their place in the play offs, I had concluded after round 8 that that the second place would be between Edgbaston Priory and Benz-Bavarian Duffield who clashed in round 9.
Well first of all I read that Phil has decided to stand aside and use his skills working for the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. Next i read that Phil has had a dream about the following scenario.
Nottingham 5 Northern 0
Manchester Pontefract 5 Duffield 0
Edgbaston 0 Wolves 5
and the headlines reading: "Songhurst's Team still Singing in the Park at Nottingham"......
Ah - wake up Phil.
Nottingham is certainly back in the frame and it is great that three teams are still mathematically in contention for the second play off place in round 10. I must check with Andy Booth whether the bookmaker Stan James is offering odds of 1000-1 for Phil's dream scenario. Worth a punt of a fiver?
I had a similar dream scenario:
FPD Savills Nottingham 5 Northern 0, Nottingham 36 points rubbers F26 A24
Manchester Pontefract 3 Duffield 2, Duffield 36 points rubbers F26 A 24
Edgbaston 1 Wolves 4, Edgbaston 36 points rubbers F24 A 26
It would then come down to games won and lost and I have worked out that in theory both Duffield and Nottingham could finish with identical records 95 -87. It would then come down to points won and lost. Whoever misses out can always blame the poor referees who all were given top marks in round 9 despite Duffield losing to Edgbaston.
The dream headlines read "Hargrave's heroes singing in the rain in Manchester".
Unfortunately Phil and I could both wake up and find that Matt Suckling's Edgbaston have spoiled our dreams. Stephen Russell states he will do his best for us "and if either dream comes true (yours or Phil's) I shall be looking for an invite to the semi AND free beer!"
Duffield loyal supporters have not given up hope and will be taking their calculators to Manchester on 9 March.
In Group B, TVS Broxbourne clinched the Group title with a whitewash of Unisport Guildford although Stacey Ross was a little unlucky to be forced to retire when 2-1 ahead and leading 5-4 in the fourth against Rodney Durbach.
Will Mr Crabtree be the next to have a dream story after sleepless nights thinking how the team from Deep South can beat Yawar's Manchester-Pontefract blistering consortium"
For those teams who are fortunate to make he play offs it is worth mentioning that without the other 7 competitive teams there would be no NL. Whatever changes lie ahead the aim of changes to the regulations must be to retain some balance so that the Manchester Utd and Chelsea cheque book approach is never allowed to stifle the smaller Clubs. (Feedback suggests that the current participating teams no longer have money to throw away).
I am personally very pleased for the success which Yawar Abbas has had this year . After a few frustrating seasons he has got the reward he deserves.
Finally, it just remains for Chris Nutley to confirm that all the U23 regulations, which have become a farce, have been complied with.