Division 1

St. Matthew's - I finished off St. Matthew's write up at pre-season with 'I think they'll be very strong in 2007/8'. However, I didn't think they would take off like a horse in a thunder storm. The addition of Martin Nicholls along with several other players from Bilston has put the icing on the cake of an already strong team. Give him his due, Mart's a winner and like Amblecote the season before, St. Matthew's have built a big lead whilst the other teams foundered. Going into the Christmas break with a ten point lead, you'd have to put St. Matt's as firm favourites to clinch the title. Although, if Clarendon win all four of their games in hand, they will be just two points adrift. And with the two clubs scheduled to play each other twice late on, it could be a barn-storming finish. I still feel that St. Matt's will win it though. Prediction - First

Amblecote - My pre-season prediction of fourth for Amblecote may have seemed a little harsh at the time but at present looks fairly accurate. Yes, they are second but I would expect Clarendon to overtake once they have caught up with their games in hand. Failing to win five out of nine League games is just not Championship winning form, although the goal difference is good. They have conceded just eleven in nine and managed 26 in the 'goals for' column, ten of which were against Sheldon though. They perhaps have an easier run-in with the hardest games out of the way. I expect Amblecote's results to improve this side of Christmas but not sufficiently to retain the title. I think they'll be up against St. Mary's for third or fourth - Prediction - Third.

St. Mary's - Like Amblecote, they seem highly placed in the Division but on analysis the results are nothing to write home about. Three wins out of nine is just not good enough to compete at the top of the table. I would say that St. Mary's are now enjoying life in the top league, having won the Cup, Charity Shield to add to promotion in 2005. Like I said at the start of the season, St. Mary's can and will beat anyone in the League. They were fifth in their first season in Division One and fourth last year, so will look to go one better - Prediction - Fourth

Rowley College - Great to see one of our older clubs rejuvenated. It seems as though they are bursting with character and enjoying their football back in Division One. If ever there was an advert for taking one step back to move forwards perhaps Rowley would be it. They still retain a core of the old Rowley team but have added a few new faces. I think Matt Williams decided not to play any longer and if that is true then I would put my finger on it being the reason for the excessive goals conceded. If winning is not the be-all and end-all then Rowley are having a superb season. Hunter's throw-ins are really difficult to defend against. I think I may organise a competition with Silva to see who can throw the farthest. Prediction - Seventh

Clarendon - I predicted Clarendon would win the League this year. I'm revising that to Runners-up but I think they will push St. Matt's all the way. If they can go on a winning streak in the New Year, then it will be all to play for with the two matches against St. Matt's current scheduled for later on. If St. Matt's falter, then I think it will be Clarendon who will pick up the pieces - Prediction - Second

Sheldon - I put Sheldon down for the wooden spoon this year and after the 7-0 trouncing on the opening day of the season, I thought that I had called that one right. Not that I take any pleasure from saying so. Sheldon have gone on to throw that prediction back at me and I'm they have taken great pleasure in proving me wrong. Jimmy Greaves used to say, and probably still does 'It's a funny old game'. Who'd have thought that they would be the ones to nick a result against the runaway league leaders? They nearly did it again a fortnight later in the Cup too and can pride themselves on winning the two games 'on aggregate'. Prediction - Sixth

Dynamo Kingswinford - Suffering from a lack of goals and paying for it. Just two wins out of eight so far leaves them in seventh and with much to do to avoid dropping back into Division Two. I used to say 20 points was the target to avoid the bottom three. Then W&P got 21 last season and finished eighth. Four wins from their remaining ten games doesn't seem too tall an ask but that's what they've got to do. - Prediction - Eighth

Chawn Hill Church - 4-2 wins against St. Matthew's and Clarendon have bolstered standings in both the Cup and League and made the rest of WMCFL sit up and take note. Chawn are a team with a proud heritage and I think it's pride that will stir them on. Like Clarendon, Chawn have games in hand and again if they win them, they will be up there. Prediction - Fifth

Renewal Solihull - I never cease to be amazed by Solihull's results, however they turn out. Just when you expect them to take a pounding they pull one out of the bag. And then they will roll over when you think they are going to put up a fight. This season has been a par performance for Renewal. It's usually about now that someone lights the blue touch paper and they're off. I think the 02/03 season was their most death-defying, when they lost the first nine matches and then won five out of the second nine. I don't think that'll be repeated this year though - Prediction - Ninth

Division 2

St. Thomas' Aldridge - Well there's one I got right, so far any way! Undefeated so far this season and one win away from the Cup quarter finals, St. Thomas' seem to be having a good season. St. Thomas' are capable of winning all their remaining games. I don't think they will but another eight out of eleven will definately see them promoted. The title run-in is now between three or four clubs: St. Thomas', Halesowen, Selly Oak and King's may sneak up on the rails - Prediction - Champions.

Halesowen Zion - A superb start to the season was followed by a spell when the wheels seemed to come off. A 3-0 win at home to St. Boniface may have got them back into winning ways but will it continue into the New Year? A dead rubber in the Cup is followed by a trip to Brierley Hill, who can prove to be tricky, especially at their home ground. Then a serious tester against Selly Oak will a big game for both clubs. Prediction - Second.

Selly Oak Methodist - A superb season so far for Selly Oak, they have come on in leaps and bounds. Dean O'Leary has returned from his year out in Australia has added spine. Michael Knowles and Samuel Antwi have been intrumental and others such as Rhyan Anderson and Laurence Belgrave are maturing. The only oppenents that can stop Selly Oak are Selly Oak. With seven out of eleven matches won and only one loss and conceding sixteen, that battle is being won comfortably. Selly Oak are an outside bet for the Second Division title. Prediction - Third

Wolverhampton & Perton Churches - Football teams, like any type of team go through phases. From formation to settling to performing to decay. I think that relegation can be a bit of a catalyst. Players come and go and whilst there are still plenty of people still involved, Wolves have seen a bit of turnover. A mixed bag of results this season: They drew with St. Thomas' and are responsible for Selly Oak's only defeat, whilst having a bad day against Walsall a few days before Christmas. I'd have thought they should win all January's matches, at least on paper, but February will be a test. Prediction - Fifth

Zion Athletic - Like last season, a good start has tailed off a bit. They will need to start winning quickly if they will stand any chance of getting into the top three. A good start to the New Year may bring back confidence that has perhaps evaporated a bit. I understand John Taylor will be back from injury and he will add goals I'm sure. Prediction - Seventh

King's AFC - King's sixth place is probably mainly due to cancelled matches. They've only played nine, whereas most teams around them have managed eleven. Wins in the two outstanding games would put them within touching distance of the top three. A fine run of form including wins against Chawn, Halesowen, Frontline in the National Cup and putting eight past Sandwell puts them in the right frame of mind to make a challenge for the top three or higher. Prediction - Fourth

Walsall Olympic - A big improvement on last season as predicted. Walsall have started to win matches by the odd goal instead of losing narrowly. They head the bottom half of the table and their target must surely be to sustain this position or maybe move into the top six. I think they can do it - Prediction - Sixth

EK Corinthia - I put EK down for seventh at the start of the season and I wasn't far off. It has taken a while for them to settle to life in WMCFL but they seem to be getting their now. I believe they will improve on the first half of the year with more good results but remain towards the top of the bottom half - Prediction - Ninth

Bilston Beacons - A disappointing and difficult season so far but no less than expected considering the exodus of personnel. Bilston are in the processing of creating a new team this season and will look to build going forward. Prediction - Tenth

St. Boniface - A disappointing end to the first half of the year, where St. Boniface seemed to be back to where they were. However on closer inspection the last three losses in the League were to Zion Athletic, Halesowen and Selly Oak. Having said that they were not steam-rollered in any of these games. St. Boniface take on Zion, Brierley Hill and Bilston in January and could win all three. If they do, their season will be firmly back on the rails. Prediction - Seventh.

Brierley Hill AOG - Classic Brierley Hill season. They languish at the base of the table, yet push the League leaders to the limit. Expect more of the same. They have had good games against Halesowen, St. Thomas and Wolves recently; played well in all three yet returned empty-handed. Division Two be afraid. Don't count your chickens: Prediction - Eleventh.

Sandwell United - Just one win so far this year: at home to Brierley Hill. Sandwell appear to have picked up where they left of in 2005. Still on the whole a very young team. I'm sure they will be looking to build in the New Year but at present they are getting beaten pretty much every week and fairly soundly. Prediction - Twelfth

At the start of the season I said:

Overall I would imagine that St. Matthew's, Rowley, Amblecote and Clarendon will compete for the top spot throughout the season. Personally, I think Sheldon will be struggling throughout, but the other five to decide amongst themselves to escape the drop.

I think we may see a battle to the end between W&P, St. Thomas', King's and possibly Selly Oak for the title with Halesowen, EKC, St. Boniface and Zion Athletic making up a mid-table group. I'm under the impression that Bilston, Sandwell, Walsall and Brierley Hill will bring up the rear.

Replace Sheldon with City and W&P with Halesowen and I wasn't far wrong.

Good luck to everyone in the New Year.