Welcome back, readers. The Counties Championship play-off race intensified in January, with well over 150 matches taking place. You can revisit all the action by reading Part 1 and Part 2 on the links attached.
The action now continues into February, when a number of teams could secure their play-off places. This bumper post will be the longest of the project so far, so make sure you’re ready for it.
February will see each division play five full rounds of fixtures – except the West division, who are playing an extra round because they love to be different from the others. We’ll also see the leftover games from Round 26, which clashed with the County Cup Quarter Finals.
NORTH DIVISION
ROUND 33 (4 February)
Welcome back, Danny Welbeck! After a three-month absence, Greater Manchester’s goal machine was back in working order against Cheshire, who had taken a 1-0 half-time lead through Adam Le Fondre. Welbeck equalised from Will Keane’s flick-on early in the second half before midfielder Kieran Lee secured a comeback win.
The Mancunians were now a whopping 21 points clear at the top of the North division. 2nd-placed South Yorkshire had dropped points against rivals North Yorkshire, with only an injury-time stunner from Kyle Naughton getting them even a draw. The other Yorkie derby saw a 2-2 draw between West Yorkshire and East Yorkshire.
Merseyside strengthened their hopes of making the play-offs as they beat County Durham 2-1. Incidentally, that was the same scoreline their nearest rivals Lancashire saw off Cumbria by. However, Tyne & Wear suffered another blow after Andy Carroll damaged his kneecap in a 2-0 home loss to Northumberland.
ROUND 26.5 (8 February)
Greater Manchester missed the chance to effectively secure a play-off spot, only drawing 0-0 with fierce rivals Merseyside. Meanwhile, West Yorkshire retook 2nd spot from their rivals in the South after a confident 4-0 thrashing of Cheshire.
ROUND 34 (11 February)
Greater Manchester stuttered again at 5th-placed Lancashire, but still got the draw they needed to become the first team officially into the play-offs. Kieran Dowell had driven Lancashire into the lead in the 48th minute. Just 15 minutes later, though, Lancastrian keeper Sam Johnstone pushed a Marcus Rashford centre into his own net to gift GM a vital point.
South Yorkshire were beaten for the first time in 2017 as Ross Barkley and Leighton Baines delivered maximum points to Merseyside. That allowed West Yorkshire to pull clear in 2nd, with Clayton Donaldson’s 70th-minute strike from a James Milner assist seeing them through against County Durham.
Despite Ben Godfrey’s 4th-minute opener giving them the perfect start, North Yorkshire succumbed to a 2-1 loss to Northumberland. Three goals in a 10-minute spell during the first half saw Tyne & Wear breeze past Cheshire, and Cumbria were marooned at the bottom after losing 1-0 to East Yorkshire.
ROUND 35 (18 February)
Lancashire’s play-off challenge was back on track after a third win in four games. Jay Rodriguez demonstrated blistering form with a hat-trick against East Yorkshire – his final goal coming after he caught home defender Liam Cooper dawdling on the ball. Jack Marriott did get on the scoresheet for the hosts, but this was all about Jay.
The Lancastrians received a further boost from Blyth, where 4th-placed Merseyside had been beaten 3-1 by in-form Northumberland. Greater Manchester began their push to secure the title in earnest as Zach Clough came off the bench to score twice in victory over Tyne & Wear.
The derby between South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire was a disappointing 0-0 where not even a strong home attack fronted by Jamie Vardy could register a shot on target. North Yorkshire didn’t deliver much entertainment either, coating past Cheshire after a 4th-minute strike from Jordan Hugill. Grant Leadbitter gave County Durham a narrow victory against Cumbria.
ROUND 36 (25 February)
Greater Manchester’s fourth league defeat was their second against Merseyside. The Scousers were resilient at the back and scored with their only shot on target, from Barkley on 56 minutes. Merseyside midfielder Joey Barton was sent off three minutes later after tripping Adam Clayton, beating up The Edge, and putting a cigarette in Larry Mullen Jr’s eye.
Northumberland extended their best run of the season, beating Cumbria 4-2 for a fourth straight win under Tony Humes. South Yorkshire also hit four against East Yorkshire, with Louis Reed capping off a perfect… no, wait, I’ve done that one before. Let’s say he sent up a satellite of love instead.
Tyne & Wear were the third team to grab a quartet of goals, with Danny Graham netting the first two against North Yorkshire before Adam Armstrong and Jack Colback got involved. County Durham dealt a fresh blow to Lancashire’s dreams, while Tommy Spurr spurred West Yorkshire to victory in Cheshire.
ROUND 37 (28 February)
Feeling nervous, are we, Greater Manchester? Gary Neville’s runaway leaders lost again – this time to mid-table North Yorkshire by 5 goals to 3! The hosts were actually 3-0 up at half-time before the Mancs roared back to life, but Charlie Wyke secured a surprise win for Steve McClaren’s men with his second of the night.
Northumberland were stopped in their tracks by West Yorkshire, with Cameron Jerome and Jonny Howson moving the hosts a step closer to finishing in 2nd place. An eventful day in Carlisle saw South Yorkshire overcome Cumbria 4-1 despite having defender Mason Holgate sent off late in the first half.
Marriott’s double was the catalyst for East Yorkshire’s 4-2 victory over County Durham, whose play-off hopes were now officially dead. Cheshire had recently dropped out of contention too, but they salvaged a 2-2 draw on Merseyside. Lancashire and Tyne & Wear – placed 5th and 6th respectively – could only cancel each other out.
Despite their recent jitters, Greater Manchester remain on course to enter the play-offs as North division champions, which they’ll do with seven points from their last seven games. West Yorkshire are seven points away from qualifying, while Merseyside and South Yorkshire are odds-on to complete the top four. Lancashire and Tyne & Wear are basically requiring snookers.
MANAGER OF THE MONTH: Tony Humes (Northumberland).
PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Alex Mowatt (South Yorkshire).
EAST DIVISION
ROUND 33 (4 February)
Gary Hooper was in the goals again for Essex, gobbling up a hat-trick in Northamptonshire. Alex Pritchard started and Andros Townsend completed a 5-1 demolition of Northants, whose defender Jamie Tank saw red five minutes from time. He could certainly expect a dressing-down from Ol’ Gravel Voice.
Sean Dyche wouldn’t have been too pleased at some other results which further damaged his team’s slim hopes of qualifying for the play-offs. Craig Mackail-Smith’s very early goal against Cambridgeshire kept Hertfordshire in 4th place. Nottinghamshire kept the pressure on Herts, though, by winning 2-1 in Suffolk.
2nd-placed Bedfordshire were too strong for Rutland, though Roger Berisha scored a late consolation for the beleaguered hosts in a 3-1 loss. Lowly Lincolnshire were more comprehensively outplayed by high-flying Derbyshire. Harvey Barnes’ late double completed a dominant second-half shift from Leicestershire against Norfolk.
ROUND 26 AND A BIT (8 February)
Essex battled to a 3-1 win in Lincolnshire, with two assists from Alex Pritchard putting them within one more victory of qualifying for the play-offs. Left-back Jay Dasilva’s goal in the 15th minute moved Bedfordshire another step closer to the off-season, while raising fresh doubts about Derbyshire’s ambitions.
ROUND 34 (11 February)
Essex squandered their first chance to finish the job, as Hertfordshire got revenge at last following three straight losses to Chris Hughton’s side. Vengeance was exacted by Herts winger Ashley Young, who drove a 73rd-minute free-kick through the wall and into the net after Harry Winks was tripped close to goal.
Keshi Anderson scored two of Bedfordshire’s three goals – and set up the other for Jernade Meade – in an easy away win over Lincolnshire. Derbyshire also had an easy day out, with their fearsome front two of Stephy Mavididi and Ashley Hunter proving too strong for Norfolk.
Dyche would need to stock up on more Strepsils after his Northamptonshire side collapsed in the second half against Nottinghamshire. Suffolk boss Lee Johnson can’t exactly have been pleased either, having surrendered a lead before losing 3-1 at Leicestershire. Cambridgeshire’s 2-1 win in Rutland took them from 9th to 7th.
ROUND 35 (18 February)
Playing Rutland at home, there was no way Essex were going to delay picking up their play-off tickets any longer. Pritchard’s 17th-minute cross for Benik Afobe set the ball rolling, and the winger then scored from a 52nd-minute free-kick to finish the job. Rutland goalie Von Gonzalvus didn’t see the free-kick coming, but Essex knew where they were heading.
Who would be the second team from the East to rubber-stamp an off-season berth? Bedfordshire stayed on course to be next across the finish line after a 3-0 win over Norfolk. Derbyshire also moved closer to the home straight, with Hunter feasting on two goals in a 5-0 rout against Leicestershire.
Hertfordshire’s position was more precarious, but a 0-0 draw stopped Nottinghamshire from leapfrogging them into 4th – at least for the time being. Suffolk got a couple of late goals to beat Northamptonshire, but perhaps they’d left this victory too late after a rotten couple of months. Lincolnshire’s 1-0 win at Cambridgeshire was much too late for them.
ROUND 36 (25 February)
Bedfordshire’s five-game winning run was shattered in Derbyshire. Hunter put the hosts ahead from the penalty spot in the 10th minute after team-mate Matty Palmer was pushed by Beds midfielder Lewis Baker. Hunter’s strike partner Mavididi and attacking midfielder James Vincent completed a 3-0 win in the second half.
Dwight Gayle’s double against Lincolnshire helped Essex to another win, though the leaders would be without goalkeeper Daniel Bentley for a few weeks after he broke his arm. Norfolk simply had their spirit broken by Cambridgeshire, whose two-goal captain Alex Revell was unstoppable in a 4-0 away win.
Nottinghamshire blinked in the battle for 4th. After giving Rutland their fourth clean sheet of the season, they found out that Hertfordshire had won 1-0 against Suffolk to go two points clear. Leicestershire and Northamptonshire drew 1-1, with the hosts effectively throwing victory away after captain Liam Moore saw red.
ROUND 37 (28 February)
The East championship was now within Essex’s reach after they sauntered past Norfolk. Charlie Daniels’ 42nd-minute penalty was complemented two minutes later by Kortney Hause, and Afobe made sure of a 3-0 win in second-half stoppage time.
Bedfordshire were more like their usual selves against Leicestershire, prevailing 3-1 after winger Daniel Powell stole the show. Suffolk also impressed in a 5-0 destruction of Rutland, with braces coming from Chris Martin AND Charlie Brown. (This time, I swear the Coldplay reference is just coincidental!)
Hertfordshire beat Northamptonshire 2-1 to hold off a fresh challenge from Nottinghamshire, who’d put three goals past Lincolnshire. A 1-0 win for Cambridgeshire – and a late red card for left-back Max Lowe – threw a couple of spanners in the Derbyshire works.
Essex have smashed the 100-goal barrier, are closing in on 100 league points, and will secure the East championship with just ONE more point. Bedfordshire should have 2nd positions all but sewn up pretty soon. That would basically leave us with three teams – Derbyshire, Hertfordshire and Nottinghamshire – fighting to the death for those final two play-off places.
MANAGER OF THE MONTH: Kenny Jackett (Hertfordshire).
PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Ashley Hunter (Derbyshire).
SOUTH DIVISION
ROUND 33 (4 February)
South London began February on top of their division, and they consolidated that position against Oxfordshire. Two goals in either half from Tammy Abraham – after he’d assisted Jason Puncheon’s opener – put them on track for a 4-2 win. Oxon’s woes grew when left-back Josh Ruffels’ season was ended by an Achilles injury.
North London kept the heat on their city foes, with Jermain Defoe playing the starring role in their 3-0 win over Wiltshire. However, Kent’s title ambitions were damaged by a 2-1 loss to a Buckinghamshire side inspired by Wales midfielder George Williams.
Two late goals from Jason Puncheon kept Hampshire in the play-off hunt and saw Berkshire lose ground on 4th-placed Bucks. Dom Dwyer decided a local derby in West Sussex’s favour against East Sussex, and Surrey were narrow victors over the Isle of Wight.
ROUND 26, PART 2 (8 February)
South London made full use of their game in hand to build a four-point lead at the top. Frontman Michail Antonio got a couple of goals against West Sussex, whose defender Joel Ward then turned a Kieran Gibbs cross into his own net.
ROUND 34 (11 February)
It’s finally happened, folks! The Isle of Wight have WON a game! Though Liam Bridcutt had put Berkshire 1-0 at half-time in Newport, the islanders didn’t panic, and Aaron Martin headed in Dan Butler’s corner early in the second half to level. Michael McEnery then broke away to secure a famous victory, and leave Rutland as the only winless team.
Berks’ play-off hopes would have been ruined even more had Buckinghamshire won in North London, but Harry Kane’s double proved too much for Sam Ricketts’ side. Sam Vokes’ opener for Hampshire didn’t worry leaders South London, with Gibbs scoring twice in a 3-1 away win.
Kent got on the right track again with a dominant performance against Surrey, whose midfielder George Saville received his third red card this term. East Sussex moved above Wiltshire into 10th after winning a dead rubber in Swindon. Another match that would have almost no impact on the play-off race was West Sussex’s 1-1 draw with Oxfordshire.
ROUND 35 (18 February)
Talking about crashing back to Earth! The Isle of Wight got seven yellow cards in Charlton, but South London got the same number of goals in one of the most one-sided Counties Championship contests yet! Abraham hit a hat-trick and Antonio a brace for Alan Pardew’s side, though they lost Jack Cork to a red card.
Sean Scannell also got himself three goals as Surrey made light work of Wiltshire to just about keep them in top-four contention. North London won their match in East Sussex with the minimum of fuss.
Buckinghamshire remained in a strong position to qualify after seeing off Hampshire 2-1, though Berkshire’s 2-0 win over West Sussex showed they weren’t finished just yet. Kent certainly hadn’t given up on the title if their 3-1 triumph in Oxfordshire was anything to go by.
ROUND 36 (25 February)
North London weren’t just beaten at home by Surrey – they were completely outsmarted by Roy Hodgson’s side! The visitors were 3-0 up at half-time after Mackie’s double and Scannell’s strike, and Ryan Mason could only pull one goal back before Craig Tanner killed NL off from the spot.
There was another big surprise in Crawley, where West Sussex rediscovered their early-season form to beat South London 3-1! Michael Harriman scored twice against the Londoners, whose miserable display was compounded by a Joe Gomez red card. All this was great news for Kent, as they had beaten Berkshire 2-1 to close the gap!
A goalless draw with East Sussex moved Buckinghamshire another point closer to their play-off dream. Hampshire beat the Isle of Wight 2-0 to keep themselves interested as well. Lower down the table, Billy Bodin’s last-gasp winner for Wiltshire decided a five-goal thriller against Oxfordshire.
ROUND 37 (28 February)
Maybe the South championship won’t be going to London after all! Ben Watson went from hero to zero for South London, scoring a second-minute penalty against Kent before being sent off just before half-time. Kent equalised through Conor Washington before John Akinde secured a dramatic away win in stoppage time.
North London recovered from their shock home loss – and survived another scare against Oxfordshire – to move within a point of the leaders. 4th place was also back up for grabs after Buckinghamshire captain George Baldock saw red in a 1-0 loss to Surrey.
Charlie Austin was at the double for Berkshire as they beat Wiltshire to cut their deficit on Berks to four points. West Sussex were another four points behind following Conor Chaplin’s winner in the Isle of Wight. However, Hampshire lost 2-1 to East Sussex and had surely left themselves too much to do now.
Five points separate the top three, and it’s not unrealistic to say that Kent’s late-season surge could see them pip South London and North London to the title. Those three will likely secure play-off places within the next month. Buckinghamshire could cement 4th, but Berkshire and West Sussex will hope to push them all the way to April.
MANAGER OF THE MONTH: Harry Redknapp (North London).
PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Sean Scannell (Surrey).
WEST DIVISION
ROUND 32 (1 February)
The West Midlands began February by putting three late goals past a faltering Warwickshire side. In the 74th minute, Craig Gardner was first to find a way past Warks goalie Scott Carson, who then conceded to Nathan Redmond two minutes later. An angled 88th-minute finish by Callum Wilson secured the points for the Midlanders.
Kemar Roofe kept Staffordshire on the roof of the West division by scoring the only goal against Gloucestershire. Shropshire lost ground, though, as Dorset’s Adam Lallana found the antidote to Elliott Bennett’s 7th-minute opener.
Devon might have flouted the roles to get Danny Cowley in as manager, but their fans weren’t complaining after a 3-1 win over Worcestershire restored some much-needed pride. They pulled clear of second-from-bottom Cornwall, who were well beaten by Somerset, while rock-bottom Herefordshire lost 2-0 at home to Bristol.
ROUND 33 (4 February)
West Midlands won a game of three penalties, seeing off Bristol 4-1. Bristol’s Chris Lines converted the first spot-kick to cancel out Wilson’s opener, barely a minute before team-mate Jack Butland saved a penalty from Gardner. Redmond then restored WM’s lead before Wilson completed an impressive hat-trick from the spot.
Warwickshire needed to come from behind twice to draw 2-2 with high-flying Somerset. 4th-placed Shropshire suffered another set-back when they fell victim to a stunning Ross Draper header for Staffordshire.
Dorset took another blow to their top-four ambitions after losing by the odd goal in five at Worcestershire. Harry Williams netted twice for Gloucestershire in their 2-1 win over Herefordshire, while Sam Gallagher’s brace got the points for Devon against neighbours Cornwall.
ROUND 34 (8 February)
It’s three wins in three meetings for Staffordshire against the West Midlands! James Wilson bit first for the Staffies just before half-time, though the hosts’ midfield terrier Jack Grealish equalised on 71 minutes. When Sam Allardyce’s side made a mess of clearing Amari’i Bell’s left-wing cross in the 82nd minute, however, Oliver Shenton capitalised to earn a dramatic away victory.
The title now looked destined for Staffordshire, especially after Somerset twice squandered leads against Dorset, much to two-goal winger Lloyd Isgrove’s annoyance. Shropshire fans were feeling annoyed as well after Peter Whittingham consigned them to another home loss, this time to Warwickshire’s benefit.
Bobby Reid netted twice in Bristol’s 5-1 demolition of Gloucestershire, while a similar five-star display from Devon at Herefordshire was inspired by a brace from Joe Mason. Alex Nicholls also made his a double as Worcestershire won against Cornwall.
ROUND 35 (11 February)
A significant twist in the play-off race saw Bristol jump ahead of Shropshire into 4th. Jacob Maddox might have had his 40th-minute opener nullified by Steven Fletcher, but Bristol made their dominance count for more in the second half. The competition’s oldest outfielder – 41-year-old Jamie Cureton – scored his first goal before teenager Tom Owen-Evans sealed the points.
For the second time this season, Gloucestershire won 1-0 at home against the West Midlands, with Williams securing another coup for Ian Holloway’s side. That result – in combination with Andre Gray’s decider against Somerset – further strengthened Staffordshire’s hold on top spot.
Jarrod Bowen salvaged some pride for Herefordshire as they beat wooden-spoon rivals Cornwall in St Austell. Another 1-0 away victory saw Worcestershire deal another blow to Warwickshire, while Dorset proved too classy for Devon.
WHAT REMAINS OF ROUND 26 (15 February)
Shropshire’s lacklustre recent form continued as they fell 2-1 to Gloucestershire, with Williams in fine fettle once again. Thankfully for Salop, Bristol could only draw 0-0 with neighbours Somerset. Both those sets of teams would meet again just three days later.
ROUND 36 (18 February)
Wow, where do I begin? Erm… let’s start in the Battle of Yeovil, where the poor referee brought out FOURTEEN yellow cards and FOUR red cards – and all but two of those bookings were in the second half! Somerset finished with eight men but still achieved another stalemate against the positively angelic Bristol, who only lost Lloyd James.
At least one team played some football in Herefordshire, where West Midlands set two new Counties Championship records in an absolute mauling. Big Sam’s big boys won 8-0, with Troy Deeney netting six (that’s right – a DOUBLE hat-trick)! It could even have finished 9-0, but Gardner’s penalty was saved by Lee Burge.
Shropshire exacted quick revenge on Gloucestershire to revitalise their play-off charge. Ryan Colclough moved Staffordshire to the brink of qualification against Worcestershire, Devon pushed Warwickshire closer to elimination, and Dorset thumped Cornwall 4-0.
ROUND 37 (25 February)
Congratulations to Dean Smith and Staffordshire, who became the first team in the West division to qualify for the play-offs. They got the job done in Cornwall, where Wilson netted a hat-trick and Gray a penalty. Their next mission: secure the divisional title.
The West Midlands wouldn’t give up on regional supremacy without a point, as Gardner scored two penalties in a 3-1 win over Somerset. Bristol moved up to 3rd after Owen-Evans scored in the 90th minute against Devon. Kieron Morris was an even later match-winner for Herefordshire as Shropshire continued to stutter.
Warwickshire’s frustration reached new heights in Dorset. Graham Potter’s side led 1-0 and 2-1, and then trailed 4-2 after a Jayden Stockley hat-trick, before scoring two late goals to equalise… only for Ben Reeves to snatch a 5-4 Dorset win. Worcestershire’s 1-1 draw with Gloucestershire was less stressful, with both goals coming in the first nine minutes.
Staffordshire are on another long unbeaten run, which leaves them within four points of being crowned champions of the West division. The West Midlands have had so many complications but could be home and hosed by the end of March. The other four play-off places are set to be decided between Bristol, Somerset and Shropshire… and possibly Warwickshire too.
MANAGER OF THE MONTH: Dean Smith (Staffordshire).
PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Craig Gardner (West Midlands).
Congratulations to Essex, Greater Manchester and Staffordshire on qualifying for the Counties Championship play-offs. We’ll find out who else is joining them next Monday.
Don’t forget that there’ll be another post on Wednesday, when I’ll give you all the results from the Quarter Finals and Semi Finals of the County Cup.
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