We’re two months into the Counties Championship, and some early title challengers have started to emerge. While West Sussex couldn’t continue their strong start in September, other sides – like Greater Manchester and the West Midlands – have shown that they might have what it takes to go all the way.
However, only one team will head into October with an impeccable league record. Take a bow, Chris Hughton and his Essex boys, who’ve won eight matches on the spin. Can anybody stop them from running away with the East title?
We’ve got another four rounds of league matches to get through in this chapter, so let’s get cracking…
NORTH DIVISION
ROUND 9 (15 October)
After the international break, North leaders Greater Manchester took a while to get up and running again against Northumberland. Once they did, though, they put five second-half goals a beleaguered Fraser Forster, who was twice beaten by Marcus Rashford. Danny Welbeck scored as well, obviously.
Gary Neville’s Mancunians retained a four-point lead on West Yorkshire, who had to recover from a 1-0 deficit – and a James Milner penalty miss – to beat Cumbria 3-1. 3rd-placed Merseyside could only draw 2-2 in East Yorkshire, having trailed at half-time.
After a somewhat quiet start to his season, Jordan Rhodes netted twice in Lancashire’s 2-0 victory over Cheshire. County Durham overcame North Yorkshire by the same scoreline, while a late Luke Boden own goal condemned South Yorkshire to a home defeat against Tyne & Wear.
ROUND 10 (22 October)
Greater Manchester hogged the headlines against South Yorkshire, though this contest wasn’t easy. The visitors recovered from 2-0 down to level the scores at half-time, only to crumble in the 75th minute. A first-time cross from Danny Simpson was volleyed in by Rashford to extend the frontrunners’ league winning streak to six.
There was now a seven-point gap at the top, courtesy of West Yorkshire’s first home defeat. Lancashire’s veteran midfielder David Perkins struck early on before Jordan Rhodes came off the bench to score again. Meanwhile on Merseyside, the hosts prevailed 2-0 over 10-man Cumbria.
Cheshire’s slump went on as Northumberland teenager Sean Longstaff played a key role in their fifth consecutive league loss. Tyne & Wear remained on the opposite trajectory, beating County Durham to prolong their winning run. The derby between North Yorkshire and East Yorkshire was a surprisingly tame goalless draw.
ROUND 11 (25 October)
David Nugent was a one-cap wonder for England in 2007, and he shone again on just his third start for Merseyside. The 31-year-old helped himself to three goals against County Durham before Wayne Rooney – who’d just turned 31 himself – completed the rout.
As Nugent scored his first hat-trick of the season, Welbeck claimed his FOURTH in Greater Manchester’s latest comprehensive win. Cheshire were the latest victims of this unstoppable goal machine. In Lancashire, the hosts were held by Cumbria, for whom Paul Huntington picked up their third red card of the league season.
In a Yorkshire double-header, West stayed 2nd after putting a couple of goals past East, and South narrowly won a fierce battle in the North. It was also derby day in the north-east, where Chris Basham fired in Tyne & Wear’s winner against Northumberland.
ROUND 12 (29 October)
At the 12th attempt, Cumbria have finally won a league game! Mind you, they needed three bites at the cherry against fellow strugglers East Yorkshire, who twice fought back from behind. It wasn’t until a last-minute Kyle Dempsey strike deflected in off Liam Cooper that the Cumbrians could finally celebrate victory.
That would have been the biggest story of the round had Greater Manchester’s great form not been halted by Lancashire. Anthony Pilkington scored the winner six minutes from time, just as the Mancunians were reeling from a devastating blow. Welbeck had suddenly pulled up with a calf muscle tear, which would sideline the Championship’s top scorer for three months.
West Yorkshire recorded a straightforward win over County Durham, and North Yorkshire eased their way past Northumberland. Merseyside and South Yorkshire shared a couple of goals, while Tyne & Wear were deadlocked with Cheshire.
Greater Manchester are still some way ahead of West Yorkshire at the top, but just how much will they miss Welbeck over the coming months? Merseyside, Lancashire and Tyne & Wear will all believe that they can take advantage. Meanwhile at the bottom, Cumbria’s last-gasp win means they edge above East Yorkshire on head-to-head.
MANAGER OF THE MONTH: Phil Parkinson (Lancashire).
PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Danny Welbeck (Greater Manchester).
EAST DIVISION
ROUND 9 (15 October)
After eight consecutive wins, Essex had their first setback of the campaign. Benik Afobe might have put them ahead after just five minutes, but barely 20 minutes later, Aden Flint headed in Nottinghamshire’s equaliser. Nigel Pearson’s side would hold their nerve and clinch a point, despite the dismissal of midfield anchor James Perch.
That was one of four draws in this round. Ben Chilwell was sent off for a second time as Bedfordshire choked on a 2-0 lead in Northamptonshire, while Luke Berry grabbed a late point for Cambridgeshire in Suffolk. Hertfordshire’s stalemate with Derbyshire saw the hosts lose Rob Kiernan to a sending-off and Sheyi Ojo to a broken ankle.
Lincolnshire were victorious in the league for the first time, prevailing 3-1 over Leicestershire. The East division’s other two winless sides clashed in Barleythorpe, where Danny Wright’s first-half brace inspired Norfolk to thrash Rutland 5-0.
ROUND 10 (22 October)
And the County Championship’s last unbeaten record has gone! Congratulations to Lee Johnson’s Suffolk, who became the first team to take maximum points from Essex. Chris Martin and Macauley Bonne were the East Anglians’ goalscoring heroes, and Dwight Gayle’s Essex riposte came too late.
Despite that slip-up, Chris Hughton’s frontrunners were still three points up on Hertfordshire, who lost 2-0 to an injury-ravaged Bedfordshire. It was also a painful day for Leicestershire, who were two goals ahead of Nottinghamshire but – thanks to Leon Best – ended up losing by that margin.
Derbyshire’s play-off hopes received a boost from Ashley Hunter, whose hat-trick brushed bottom club Rutland aside. Cambridge leapfrogged Northamptonshire into 7th with a three-goal win, and Norfolk’s mini-surge continued against fellow strugglers Lincolnshire.
ROUND 11 (25 October)
There was more October awkwardness for Essex when Ivan Toney’s injury-time goal put Northamptonshire ahead at half-time. Whatever Hughton said to his team at half-time must’ve worked, as Gayle, Charlie Daniels and Andros Townsend were all on target in the second half of a 3-1 comeback win.
Cauley Woodrow missed a penalty for Hertfordshire against Cambridgeshire… but his team-mate Josh Scowen was more clinical from the spot in a home victory. Leicestershire appeased their disgruntled support versus Norfolk, and the Ipswich faithful celebrated Ed Upson’s late winner for Suffolk against Nottinghamshire.
Rutland led a match for the first time, but Doug Bader’s 37th-minute opener was cancelled out by Bedfordshire’s Keshi Anderson just two minutes later. A second-half strike from Daniel Powell continued Rutland’s wait for a win. Elsewhere, Lincolnshire ground out a point against Derbyshire.
ROUND 12 (29 October)
Leicester midfielder Hamza Choudhury has some explaining to do. With the hosts 2-1 up on Suffolk with six minutes to go, the teenager tripped up Liam Trotter to collect his second yellow card, followed by a red. Suffolk capitalised as Martin completed a hat-trick to bring all three points home to East Anglia.
The East’s top two collided in Watford, where Gayle and Afobe linked up brilliantly to inflict a second defeat on Hertfordshire from Essex. Anderson’s hat-trick against Lincolnshire lifted in-form Bedfordshire up to 3rd – ahead of Suffolk on goal difference.
Hunter made easy meat of Norfolk as Derbyshire won 4-1 to complete the month unbeaten. Cambridgeshire also celebrated victory on the road, thanks to captain Alex Revell’s double in Rutland. In fact, the only match of this round that wasn’t an away win was Nottinghamshire’s 1-1 draw at Northamptonshire.
Despite a couple of wobbles earlier in the month, Essex’s lead in the East division has actually strengthened. Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Suffolk are all six points adrift, though a bunch of teams are hoping to replace them in the top four soon. I don’t think Rutland are among them somehow.
MANAGER OF THE MONTH: Garry Monk (Bedfordshire).
PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Ashley Hunter (Derbyshire).
SOUTH DIVISION
ROUND 9 (15 October)
Having shocked South London in August, West Sussex threatened to inflict a surprise home defeat on North London as well. Dom Dwyer’s 4th-minute penalty had given Gareth Southgate’s men the perfect start. However, two injury-time strikes from Harry Kane – and a Mark Noble spot-kick – turned the game in the Londoners’ favour.
South London were also victorious, with Jason Puncheon securing the points against an East Sussex side who had midfielder Dean Hammond sent off for a second time. A Simon Church double saw Buckinghamshire record an easy 3-0 win over the Isle of Wight.
Despite losing Matt Ritchie to a broken leg sustained on Scotland duty, Hampshire jumped into the top four through James Ward-Prowse’s assist and goal against Oxfordshire. They displaced Berkshire, who twice came from behind to draw 3-3 with Surrey. The other match saw lowly Wiltshire concede a late winner to Kent forward Wayne Routledge.
ROUND 10 (22 October)
Puncheon certainly packed a punch in South London’s latest victory. The Jamaican international midfielder’s hat-trick was complemented by winger Moses Odubajo and striker Lewis Grabban as Oxfordshire were well beaten 5-2.
North London kept the pressure on their bitter rivals, as three goals in the final 10 minutes – including two from Kane – did for Wiltshire. Fuller FM favourite Lee Angol scored his first two goals for Surrey as they heaped further misery on the Isle of Wight.
East Sussex took an early lead in a tense derby with West Sussex, but James Norwood’s dismissal just before half-time would cost them dear. Aarran Racine and Conor Chaplin both scored after the break to deliver victory to the West. Hampshire were held 1-1 by Berkshire, and likewise Buckinghamshire by Kent.
ROUND 11 (25 October)
Right-back Darnell Fisher had a nightmare game as Berkshire suffered just their second loss of the season. After Puncheon scored a late first-half opener for South London, Fisher took the blame for failing to intercept an 87th-minute centre from Jordon Ibe. Michail Antonio powered it home as the hosts claimed a fifth successive win.
Buckinghamshire stormed to a 3-0 half-time lead at Wiltshire, for whom a spirited double from Yan Klukowski came too late. Bucks were now up to 3rd position, as West Sussex’s defence had capitulated in a 5-2 loss to Surrey spearheaded by Jamie Mackie and Sean Scannell.
North London’s Raheem Sterling and Jermain Defoe were on target early in the second half as Hampshire were beaten on home turf for the first time. The Isle of Wight were much more used to the feeling, with Oxfordshire inflicting their latest big loss after a level first half. George Boyd rolled back the years in Kent’s win over East Sussex.
ROUND 12 (29 October)
West Sussex fell to 6th – their lowest position of the season – after being outclassed by Oxfordshire in Crawley. Dwyer’s 18th-minute opener was cancelled out by Oxon winger Callum O’Dowda, who went on to score a hat-trick before an Adam Webster own goal compounded Southgate’s misery.
The two London clubs only managed draws, but in different circumstances. North London narrowly held on against Buckinghamshire following a 79th-minute red card to Noble. South London came even closer to defeat, as they didn’t respond to Danny Ings’s goal for Hampshire until Jack Cork broke through in stoppage time.
Kent also left it late to get a point against Surrey, but left-back Ryan Bertrand’s point-saver was enough to lift them into the top four. Berkshire rebounded with a 2-0 victory on the Isle of Wight, and Klukowski’s penalty secured Wiltshire’s long-awaited maiden win against East Sussex.
The Londoners stay on top, with South ahead of North by the slimmest of margins. Buckinghamshire and Kent are also in the play-off places after unbeaten months, but reality has bitten West Sussex and they now look to be in freefall. Hampshire fans will be concerned about recent results as well.
MANAGER OF THE MONTH: Harry Redknapp (North London).
PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Jason Puncheon (South London).
WEST DIVISION
ROUND 9 (15 October)
Things haven’t been easy for the West Midlands lately, and they didn’t exactly coast to victory in Cornwall. Callum Wilson and Daniel Sturridge put them 2-0 up at half-time before some second-half collywobbles. Though Carl Ikeme saved a 56th-minute penalty from Cornwall skipper Ryan Dickson, he couldn’t stop Mark Jones’ header just moments later.
Staffordshire came close to throwing a 3-0 half-time lead away, though bottom side Herefordshire could only pull a couple of goals back in the end. Despite that, Dean Smith’s outfit took 2nd place off Shropshire, who needed Jake Cook’s 87th-minute half-volley to avoid defeat in Devon.
Somerset keeper Ben Hamer fumbled in a calamitous own goal during their 1-1 draw with Worcestershire. Reuben Reid netted in-form Bristol’s latest winner in Warwickshire, and Dorset were the only home victors in this round, overcoming Gloucestershire by two goals.
ROUND 10 (22 October)
Staffordshire’s bull terriers bared their teeth against Gloucestershire, with five different players getting on the scoresheet. Despite twice losing the lead in the first half, the Staffies dominated the second period, thanks to strikes from captain Richard Stearman, midfielder Kemar Roofe and striker Andre Gray.
Smith took his team to the top of the table after Sam Allardyce’s West Midlands crumbled in Worcestershire. Not only did they lose 2-0 without a single shot on target, but Egypt midfielder Sam Morsy was sent off for two bookings. There was disappointment too for Shropshire in a bore draw against Dorset.
Herefordshire claimed just their second point of the season, with frontman Andrew Williams crooning his way to a draw against Bristol. Sean Morrison was Devon’s match-winner in their mid-table duel with Worcestershire, and Somerset extended their recent unbeaten run by beating Cornwall.
ROUND 11 (26 October)
Might this be one of the defining moments of the season? Staffordshire built a clear lead in the table after taking advantage of the West Midlands’ wastefulness. Roofe and Stearman netted in either half to raise fresh doubts about the division favourites’ resolve under pressure.
Big Sam’s faltering side dropped to 3rd behind Shropshire, who were ruthless in front of goal against Warwickshire. Their three-goal haul was matched by Somerset, who beat Dorset 3-1, though Bristol could manage ‘only’ two against Ian Holloway’s Gloucestershire.
Cornwall stunned Worcestershire 3-1 to record just their second win of the season. It was a red letter day too for Herefordshire, who survived constant pressure from Devon as Connor Wickham’s double saw them win by the odd goal in five. At the 11th attempt, Sean Edwards had finally led the Bulls to a league win!
ROUND 12 (29 October)
Hmm… maybe that was just a blip from the West Midlands. Though they failed to beat Bristol’s Jack Butland in the first half, they put three goals past the England goalkeeper after the break. To add to Keith Curle’s frustration, his left-back Joe Bryan was sent off for two clumsy challenges on Wilson.
That result had given the title favourites fresh hope, especially as the two teams above them – Shropshire and Staffordshire – had cancelled one another out in Shrewsbury. The south-west derby between Devon and Cornwall was also a draw, with Dan Gosling’s 93rd-minute equaliser denying the Cornishmen back-to-back wins.
The month ended with three away shut-out wins. Herefordshire crashed back to earth after being torn apart by Gloucestershire’s young striker Tyler Roberts. Worcestershire lost their star man Joe Lolley to a knee injury and then lost 1-0 to Dorset, while a single Jamie Paterson goal saw Warwickshire past Somerset.
Staffordshire are now the team everyone else in the West has to catch. The West Midlands will hope they’re now over their recent slump in form, and while Shropshire are defensively resilient, they might need more goals. Graham Potter’s Warwickshire head an increasingly volatile chasing pack.
MANAGER OF THE MONTH: Dean Smith (Staffordshire).
PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Richard Stearman (Staffordshire).
Ah, so Essex are beatable after all! And who’d have thought that Staffordshire would be the team to pull clear in the West?
We will return next week with a summary of November’s results. After the last international break of 2016, will it be business as usual… or will some new contenders emerge?
Fuller FM 
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