[Chimer]

Teach Strides Out to a Six-Point Lead

Despite the snake factor, the predictions were reasonably pragmatic for the Chesterfield game , with 21 keeping the faith, 11 assuming the worst and 10 sitting on the fence. The faithful were duly rewarded, and, as usual, this meant our leaders didn’t do very well at all. The biggest mover was Rosey, up from 11th to 7th thanks to a spot-on default entry. 5 points also went to DaveinGermany, Redash and Smobile, the latter distinguishing himself by also predicting the Chief Snake’s sending to the stands. If we ever need an additional tiebreaker, Smobile wins!!

Given that result, of course, pragmatism went out the window for a simple home game against the monkey-hangers . 31 optimists, 4 pessimissts and 6 undecided. Andd of course this time undecided was the way to be, and the best indecision sat with Dav007 who alone forecast the dour goalless stalemate. But 4 of our Top Ten picked up 3 points – Teach, Football19, Kiwi John and Bdc, the other drawmonger being CmonStanley by default. The effect on the top of the table was a gentle shuffle, with AngeB dropping out of the Top Two for the first time for months, replaced by arch-realist F19, 2 points behind Teach. KJ up to 4th, but 5 points behind Ange,

So, away to the Dale next ….. and less than half keeping the faith, 16 for us, 14 for them, and 9 for the draw. Of the fickle 14, Teach, Accybeme, Deeayess and NigeB got the score absolutely right and 5 points, resulting in Teach’s lead stretching out to 3 points over F19. F19 got 1 bonus point, so moved a further point clear of Ange, who didn’t. And although this is not all about me, if I’d published the tables at this stage, I would have been bottom of the top half, with Div3North striding ahead of me.

On to Morecambe, who can’t beat us – 33 thought so, only 2 pessimists and 8 fence-sitters this time. And the majority right this time, but no-one saw us getting 5, so nobody got 5 – though lots got 4 with a bonus for Paddy’s goal for the Shrimps. These included Teach and AngeB, but F19 went pragmatic with a 1-1 draw, allowing Ange to sneak ahead of him on countback, with both now 6 points adrift of Teach. And I’m still bottom of the top.

With 45 points still available, everybody down to 40th in the PL table (that’s Yerself) could still take the non-existent prize. So let’s take it a game at a time … roll on the Pilgrims!!

On Stanley On!!