The Counties Championship: January – Part 2

We’re now into the second half of my Counties Championship project on Football Manager 2017. If you were with me last time, you’ll remember just how hectic a month December was. You can revisit all the action in these links to Part 1 and Part 2.

If December was packed with fixtures, though, then January is even more so. Our teams will play as many as NINE matches over the course of a month that really could make or break their play-off hopes.

Be aware, though, that there are a few database quirks with January’s fixtures. Round 26 clashes with the County Cup Quarter Finals, so the eight teams involved in cup action have had their league games from that round postponed until February.

Also, Round 32 is played on Tuesday 31 January, but because the West division plays midweek games on Wednesdays, you won’t find out its results for that particular round until next month’s update.

As with December’s round-ups, I’m splitting the January updates across two posts, with this one covering the South and West divisions. You can read what happened in the North and East divisions right here.

SOUTH DIVISION

ROUND 24 (3 January)

I don’t think anyone could’ve foreseen Jonjo Shelvey scoring a hat-trick in the Counties Championship. Yet that’s what exactly what happened in North London’s first game of the year – a 6-0 demolition of East Sussex where Harry Kane, Dean Marney and Adam Smith also scored. Another Dean Hammond red card, though? Everybody saw that coming…

South London also enjoyed a winning start to 2017, as Harry Arter and Lewis Grabban saw the leaders through against the rock-bottom Isle of Wight. Kent were pushed close by Oxfordshire before George Boyd got them the points.

Buckinghamshire moved back into the play-off spots after a 2-0 defeat of Hampshire allowed them to take advantage of Berkshire’s 0-0 draw with West Sussex. In Swindon, a Matt Tubbs double left Wiltshire fans over the moon(raker) against Surrey.

ROUND 25 (7 January)

North London bagged another five goals as they put Oxfordshire to the sword. Gozie Ugwu scored for Oxon after Yannick Bolasie’s opening double, but another brace from Kane – and an own goal from James Lawrence – put the Londoners in total control.

South London stayed five points clear at the top, as Jason Puncheon knocked 3rd-placed Kent down. German-born wing-back Jeffrey Schlupp provided a couple of assists in Buckinghamshire’s 3-1 win over Surrey.

East Sussex’s defence leaked more goals, shipping four to a Hampshire side who were fronted superbly by Sam Vokes. West Sussex had a much better time of it against the Isle of Wight, winning 3-0. Dominic Solanke’s 31st-minute goal for Berkshire was cancelled out just moments later by Wiltshire’s Yan Klukowski in a 1-1 draw.

ROUND 26 (10 January)

Okay, so that’s… 17 goals in three matches from North London! Their latest goal glut was a 6-1 demolition of Surrey, in which Kane scored FOUR. Remarkably, Roy Hodgson’s sorry Surrey side didn’t concede any more goals after midfielder George Saville saw red in the 53rd minute.

Kent consolidated 3rd place as Conor Washington saw off Berkshire, and Buckinghamshire strengthened their grip on 4th by beating East Sussex. Hampshire remained in the play-off hunt after an easy win over the Isle of Wight, while lowly Oxfordshire restored some pride against Wiltshire.

ROUND 27 (14 January)

South London’s wing wizards were in full flight against Wiltshire. Michail Antonio and Jordon Ibe each scored midway through the first half, with substitute Lewis Grabban adding a third goal late on.

North London ‘only’ scored two goals against Berkshire, but goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux saved a couple of second-half penalties from Simon Cox and Jake Cooper. Also winning 2-0 on the road were Kent, who could easily have run riot after the Isle of Wight had both Shaun Cooper and captain Lewis Buxton sent off.

Simon Church extended Buckinghamshire’s winning run by burying a superb direct ball from Kgosi Ntlhe against Oxfordshire. Hampshire’s top-four hopes took a dent after they threw away a 2-0 lead in West Sussex, while a Will Hughes red card didn’t stop Surrey from beating East Sussex.

ROUND 28 (17 January)

North London’s well ran dry in the derby against South London, as Kane had a rare off day in front of goal. Fortunately for Harry Redknapp, his foes from south of the river couldn’t convert their chances either in an unexpected goalless draw.

Washington had no such problems finding the net in a confident Kent win over West Sussex. Seeking a third league win, East Sussex were 1-0 up on Oxfordshire at half-time thanks to skipper Tommy Elphick. Unfortunately, his fellow defenders couldn’t see the job through as Oxon recovered to win 2-1.

The Isle of Wight got a third draw on the board against Wiltshire, whose veteran striker James Constable denied the islanders a maiden victory. Hampshire and Surrey were locked at 0-0, while Buckinghamshire ran out of steam and gave opponents Berkshire a route back into the play-off picture.

ROUND 29 (21 January)

Buckinghamshire couldn’t get themselves going again when they arrived in Charlton. After persistently banging on the door, it finally opened in the 73rd minute for South London – and specifically for Puncheon, whose brace earned them the points.

North London took a commanding 4-0 half-time lead on the Isle of Wight before generously allowing home striker Scott Jones to score in the second half. Surrey weren’t in such a charitable mood against Oxfordshire, as goals in either half from Jamie Mackie and Craig Tanner gave their opponents’ hides a good tanning.

Charlie Austin took Berkshire another step closer to regaining their top-four place against East Sussex. Gareth Southgate’s West Sussex began to believe they could get back in the race after inflicting another defeat on Wiltshire. Hampshire thought Danny Ings would get them all three points against Kent, whose striker John Akinde had other ideas.

ROUND 30 (24 January)

Hmm… a possible turning point in the title race, perhaps? Antonio twice put South London ahead in East Sussex, but twice the hosts fought back to level the scores. A 51st-minute red card for midfielder Jack Cork didn’t exactly aid Alan Pardew’s men either as their winning run was brought to a halt.

Sensing blood, North London rediscovered their killer instinct against West Sussex. A brace from Kane kicked off a five-star display, which lifted them up to top spot (albeit having played a game more than South London). Buckinghamshire went one better against the Isle of Wight, with Rob Hall contributing half of their six-goal haul.

There was a nasty Akinde surprise for Wiltshire, as another two goals from John stretched Kent’s unbeaten start to the year. Oxfordshire’s inconsistent beginnings to 2017 carried on as they prevailed in Hampshire, and Austin struck twice in Berkshire’s 3-0 away win over Surrey.

ROUND 31 (28 January)

Another twist! Ruben Loftus-Cheek was feeling very cheeky against North London, as Kent’s young attacking midfielder scored twice to stun the league leaders and blow the title race wide open! What’s more, Ryan Mason got himself needlessly sent off and would miss North London’s next game.

That result allowed South London to retake the lead, and they did so by putting three goals past Surrey goalkeeper Alex McCarthy, albeit after he’d saved a Ben Watson penalty. Ex-Portsmouth winger Jed Wallace scored the winner six minutes from time as Berkshire survived a scare from Oxfordshire.

East Sussex had their best result of the season, recording a 4-0 win. Then again, it was against the Isle of Wight, who would probably have lost to their Under-12s. It was child’s play for all four sets of defenders in the 0-0 draws between West Sussex and Buckinghamshire, and Wiltshire and Hampshire.

ROUND 32 (31 January)

Austin and Solanke had South London on the canvas as Berkshire took a 2-0 half-time lead in Charlton. Tammy Abraham and Nathaniel Chalobah got the hosts back on terms before Ibe appeared to have completed a comeback win. That was until the 90th minute, when Berks substitute Simon Cox’s long-range strike slipped past Rob Elliot for a draw!

That result was fantastic news for North London, who had survived their own battle against Hampshire, winning 4-2 after another fantastic midfield display from Shelvey. Buckinghamshire ended January with a straightforward 3-0 win in Wiltshire.

Three goals in the final 12 minutes got the job done for Kent against East Sussex, who were on the road to hell after midfielder Glen Rea was sent off. The Isle of Wight were also on the road to a 3-0 defeat against Oxfordshire, but West Sussex vs Surrey was a stalemate.

And after an epic first month of the year, South London narrowly lead North London by one point – with a game in hand. Kent are only five points off the pace, though, so they could yet make a late challenge for the title. It looks like Buckinghamshire and Berkshire will continue squabbling over the final play-off place.

MANAGER OF THE MONTH: Harry Redknapp (North London).

PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Harry Kane (North London).

WEST DIVISION

ROUND 24 (4 January)

Warwickshire’s form had declined in December, and they started January by losing an eight-goal classic in Kidderminster. Thanks to a brace from Joe Lolley, Worcestershire led 3-0 after just nine minutes, and 5-1 at half-time. Will Grigg’s second goal of the day and a late volley from Craig Stanley couldn’t quite spark Warwickshire back into life.

Tom Bradshaw scored twice for Shropshire as they went 4th at the expense of Bristol, whose winger Bobby Reid hit a double of his own to threaten a late comeback. The fifth player to find the net twice in this round was West Midlands captain Troy Deeney, who proved too strong for Gloucestershire.

An 89th-minute red card for skipper John Brayford couldn’t stop leaders Staffordshire from getting a 1-0 win at 2nd-placed Somerset. Bottom side Herefordshire were overwhelmed by Cornwall, and Devon were 1-0 winners against Dorset.