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Calor League Division One Central New Year Review 2013/14

As we enter 2014, here is our review of how the 22 teams in the Calor League Division One Central are faring so far. League positions and statistics are accurate to 2nd January 2014.

AFC Hayes Position: 12/22

Hayes hit the headlines for the wrong reasons early last month when three of their players - including top-scorer Lawrie Shennan - were suspended for breaches of betting rules. On the pitch it has been a steady season though, sitting comfortably mid-table and having secured some impressive results with wins over Royston Town and Slough Town, although cup performance was disappointing. Manager Ian Crane will need to replace Shennan's goals, and will be looking for his side to improve on their rather poor home record, but they look set to improve on last season's 15th place finish.

Leading scorer: Lawrie Shennan (8)

Ashford Town (Mx) Position: 22/22

Bottom of the pile with just six points and a minus fifty goal difference, it's fair to say the first half of the season hasn't been the best for Ashford, and now cut adrift from third bottom North Greenford United by ten points they need to start picking up wins fast if relegation is to be avoided. Club legend Paul Burgess departed as manager in November with the team on a woeful near-two month losing streak, but his replacement, coach Ben Murray, has yet to arrest the slide despite some improved performances.

Leading scorer: Samad Kazi (5)

Aylesbury FC Position: 18/22

A largely disappointing start to the season was only tempered by a 3-1 victory in the inaugural Aylesbury derby, and early elimination from the major cup competitions and a poor league run eventually cost manager Craig Faulconbridge who left the club in October. His replacement, Steve Bateman, has brought in a number of his own players and recent form has improved. As a result the Moles have started slowly climbing the table, and will be hoping to continue that trend in the coming months.

Leading scorer: Gareth Price (10)Most appearances: Lamar Simpson (25)

Aylesbury United Position: 11/22

Decimated by injuries and/or suspensions throughout the first half of the season, a solid league placing and some very good cup results make it a successful return to the Southern League for the Ducks so far. Manager Tony Joyce will be hoping to have a full squad to choose from more regularly in 2014, and with Aylesbury still competing in two cup competitions and having many more exciting league fixtures on the horizon there is plenty more to look forward to this season.

Leading scorer: Stacey Field (12)Most appearances: Jack Wood (28)

Barton Rovers Position: 3/22

The biggest surprise package of the campaign so far, Barton have topped the table this season and are still in the top three, although seem to be hampered more than their rivals by the Sharpenhoe Road pitch being particularly sensitive to the wet weather. Two games in hand could bring the Blues back to within five points of leaders, and Bedfordshire rivals, Dunstable Town, and Dan Kennoy will be hoping they can prove to be genuine title contenders in the second half of the season although he will be concerned that nobody is yet scoring as regularly as departed top scorer Nat Peacock.

Leading scorer: Nat Peacock (13)

Beaconsfield SYCOB Position: 9/22

A difficult start to the season saw James Pritchard leave the club on the eve of the big kick off, with his replacement Gary Meakin given a tough task with only seven players on the books when he arrived. Meakin has done a good job in moulding his own team, and SYCOB can look forward to another season challenging for a playoff spot, as they currently sit just four points off the coveted fifth place.

Leading scorer: Zak Joseph (10)Most appearances: James Reading (24)

Chalfont St. Peter Position: 16/22

Manager Danny Edwards's 10th season in charge of the Saints has no doubt been a frustrating one, as his side's inconsistencies see them occupy exactly the same spot as that which they finished last season. With a lot of new faces signed in the summer now settled at the club, Chalfont will be looking for a better second half to the season and with teams just above them closely bunched will be looking to push up the table.

Leading scorer: Scott Fitzgerald (14)Most appearances: Alex Paine (27)

Chertsey Town Position: 21/22

Chertsey were widely predicted to struggle this season, and sadly for them the Curfews are fulfilling that prophecy with just one league win and six points to their name so far, although a far superior goal difference keeps them off the bottom. Like Ashford, Chertsey are almost becoming out of touch with the teams above them, and need to start picking up points quickly if they are to survive their third season in the Southern League.

Leading scorer: John Pomroy (8)

Daventry Town Position: 5/22

The early pace setters made a flying start by winning their first seven league games, but long runs in the FA Cup and FA Trophy saw other teams overtake them in the table. Manager Darran Foster has made some astute signings recently, and with four games in hand over leaders Dunstable they can still harbour genuine aspirations of challenging for the title. Daventry also have a 'Perfect 10' unblemished home record of played 10 - won 10.

Leading scorer: Ashley Robinson (16)Most appearances: Ross Oulton (31)

Dunstable Town Position: 1/22

Leading the field by one point, and with a game in hand over second placed Rugby Town, Dunstable are in a strong position as they challenge for back-to-back promotions following last season's unbeaten Spartan South Midlands Championship. Wins against title rivals Daventry and Rugby, and a season's record eleven straight league wins are early season highlights. Star striker Lee Roache remains prolific, and has been backed up by the return of winger Chris Marsh this season - who has already netted fifteen times himself.

Leading scorer: Lee Roache (22)Most appearances: Joe Bruce (30)

Egham Town Position: 13/22

The reigning Combined Counties League Champions have made a comfortable step up to Southern League level, with some decent results in the first half of the season. The signing of Ryan O'Toole has proved crucial, as he has scored plenty of goals. Egham have been another team badly affected by injuries this season, and manager Lee Passmore will be hoping for more consistency going into 2014.

Leading scorer: Ryan O'Toole (13)Most appearances: Josh Andrew (29)

Kettering Town Position: 7/22

Never far from drama, Kettering were wound up in the high court just before Aylesbury were due to play them in September, before successfully appealing the decision and living to fight another day. A disappointing start to the campaign on the pitch lead to wholesale changes to the team, and with some pivotal (and, reportedly, expensive) new signings the Poppies now seem to have turned the corner. Unbeaten since mid-October, a late charge to glory now looks to be in the offing.

Leading scorer: Dubi Ogbonna (6)Most appearances: Steven Kinniburgh (27)

Leighton Town Position: 19/22

Leighton's dire start to the season - going until mid-October before their first win - made the Reds look certainties for a bottom two finish, but they have since scrapped for enough points to move clear of the danger zone, including a shock 1-0 win over Slough Town. Manager Craig Wells will continue to keep his side fighting, and will be looking to pick up a few more wins in the coming weeks.

Leading scorer: Ben Gallant (8)

Marlow Position: 14/22

Another of the newly promoted clubs to have adjusted to Southern League life with a degree of comfort, Marlow are nicely placed in 14th in their first season back having won the Hellenic League Championship last year. Manager Mark Bartley has made some good signings, notably striker Jon Bennett who has been prolific since joining from Ascot United. Meanwhile, talented midfielder Ben Gladwin was snapped up by Football League side Swindon Town.

Leading scorer: Jon Bennett (17)Most appearances: Simon Grant (26)

North Greenford United Position: 20/22

Just below Leighton, North Greenford are living up to their billing as predicted strugglers. Some notable results in the first half of the season include beating Dunstable Town 3-1, but recent form has been poor and manager Neil Shipperley, the former Chelsea striker, will be keen to avoid getting further drawn into the relegation dogfight - particularly if Chertsey or Ashford spur on in the second half of the season.

Leading scorer: Anthony O'Connor (8)Most appearances: Omar Vassell (29)

Northwood Position: 8/22

Despite a rocky start of seven defeats in their opening nine league games, the Woods are now enjoying a good first full season under Mark Burgess and appear to be right in the playoff mix. Their form against the top sides has been mixed, however, and Burgess will need to address this if his side are to break into the top five come May.

Leading scorer: Nico Muir (20)Most appearances: Joakim Ehui (28)

Potters Bar Town Position: 17/22

One of three Division One Central clubs to have changed manager during the season, Adam Lee resigned his position in October and was replaced by rookie Jack Friend in his first managerial position at the age of just 23. Friend made a great start with four wins from his first four games, but with no victories since will be hoping for a quick return to form.

Leading scorer: Tobi Akin (7)Most appearances: Fabian Simms (26)

Royston Town Position: 4/22

With a squad full of quality and experience, the Crows are quite rightly challenging at the top end of the table, but already twelve points behind the leaders might have to settle for the playoffs this time around. In October long-serving Paul Attfield stepped down due to health and personal reasons, but the club have only just appointed his successor in Steve Castle, who has made a good start to his tenure with a 0-0 draw with Dunstable and a 4-1 win over Potters Bar Town.

Leading scorer: Robbie Mason (12)Most appearances: Ross Collins (27)

Rugby Town Position: 2/22

Rugby appear to be the most likely challengers to Dunstable with just a point separating the two at the top. Valley have only lost twice in the league in the last three months, although crucially one of those defeats was against Dunstable. The deadly David Kolodynski is the current league top scorer with 20 goals, whilst manager Dave Stringer has bolstered the squad recently with St. Ives Town midfielder Jared Cunniff, who promptly netted twice on his debut.

Leading scorer: David Kolodynski (23)Most appearances: Niall Cooper (33)

Slough Town Position: 6/22

Slough's new management duo of Neil Baker and former Aylesbury defender Jon Underwood have had an up and down first half of the season. Sitting on the peripherals of playoff qualification, the Rebels are currently in the midst of a crippling injury crisis which even prompted chairman Steve Easterbrook to release a statement on the situation. There have been highs, such as the 3-1 win over Daventry Town, but just one win from five in December leaves supporters hoping for better in the new year.

Leading scorer: Edward Smith (16)Most appearances: Darren Wheeler (29)

St. Ives Town Position: 10/22

In their first ever season at this level, St. Ives are going well in 10th place but have been adversely affected by player departures with leading scorer Dubi Ogbonna moving to Kettering and midfielder Jared Cunniff to Rugby. A slight downturn in form was ended with a thumping 4-0 win over Ashford Town (Mx) to end 2013 on a high note.

Leading scorer: Dubi Ogbonna

Uxbridge Position: 15/22

15th place will be something of a disappointment for Tony Choules, who in the summer spoke of his frustrations at last season's inconsistencies. The same appears to be happening as the Honeycroft side have secured wins against the likes of Slough and Northwood, but have lost out to some of the lower ranked teams, but Uxbridge have proved to be a capable team and will be looking for a strong second half to the season.

Leading scorer: Craig Tomkins (15)Most appearances: Craig Tomkins (27)