Evo-Stik League Southern Review 2014/15
Now the Evo-Stik League Southern Division One Central has drawn to a close, here is our review of the season and a look at the fortunes of all 22 teams.
AFC Hayes Position: 22/22 (Relegated)
Southern League members since the former Brook House club renamed in 2007, AFC Hayes time looks to be up as they finished bottom of the league and now face relegation. A poor start saw Hayes have to wait until the last weekend of September for their first league win, whilst an even worse middle of the campaign cost manager Ian Crane his job. Results improved when former North Greenford United boss Paul Palmer took the helm, and for a while a miracle escape looked a distinct possibility, but it was all too little, too late.
Aylesbury FC Position: 3/22
In his first full season in charge, manager Steve Bateman lead the Moles to their highest ever league finish and eventual qualification for the playoffs. Topping the table for a spell, and dishing out two 8-1 thrashings in September were definite highlights to the Aylesbury FC faithful as were more derby day victories over Aylesbury United in both the league and FA Cup. Whilst the season ended with disappointment of defeat in the playoff semi final by Bedworth United, optimism that Bateman - who has already committed for next season - can keep the majority of his squad in tact and mount another challenge at the sharp end of the table remain high.
Aylesbury United Position: 13/22
In their second season back in the Southern League following promotion, Aylesbury United finished one place down on their first, but still comfortably fulfilled ambitions of staying in the league, whilst a Berks & Bucks Cup Final outing was an end of season bonus. Inconsistencies - in the second half of the campaign particularly - meant Tony Joyce's side weren't able to string back-to-back league wins since September which hampered their hopes of pushing into the higher echelons of the table.
Barton Rovers Position: 5/22
Another club to have secured their highest ever league finish, Barton's management duo of Wes Byrne and ex-Ducks goalkeeper Richard Wilmot, in their first season in charge, secured fifth place and playoff qualification despite an unspectacular start to the season. The transfer of starlet Keshi Anderson to Crystal Palace served to galvanise the club rather than distract, an an excellent run of results through the last three months of the season saw Rovers pip Rugby Town to the final playoff berth. They then went on to see off in-form Royston Town on penalties in the semi finals, but found Bedworth United a step too far. Will be looking to repeat the feat again next season with a young and ever-maturing squad.
Beaconsfield SYCOB Position: 20/22
Having just missed out on the playoffs last time out, a tumultuous season saw the Rams doing just enough to avoid the drop in the end. After a dreadful start to the campaign, previous manager Gary Meakin, who had left the club to take over at neighbours Burnham in the summer, returned for a brief eight-match stint in January and February, and in bringing back a number of his past squad members - such as Victor Osobu who scored 7 goals in 13 games - the quality was there to lift Beaconsfield to safety as Naseem Bashir took temporary charge for the run in and oversaw just one defeat in the final nine games.
Bedford Town Position: 17/22
Newly relegated Bedford spent almost the entire season at the bottom end of the table, but despite flirting with the bottom-two on occasions never looked in serious danger of suffering successive demotions. Having settled a potentially ruining court case and the position of club owner David Howells now resolved, off the field problems seem to be lifting for the Eagles and the hope will be that Craig Adams can push on and look higher up the league next time around.
Bedworth United Position: 4/22 (Promoted via Playoffs)
Bedworth were transferred from the Northern League last summer, and their return to the Southern League, and Division One Central, turned out to be a brief one as they were promoted - via the playoffs - at the first time of asking. Despite reaching the summit at the end of January, the Greenbacks ultimately had to do things the hard way - beating Aylesbury FC and Barton Rovers to gain their return to Step 3, and now all remains to be seen is whether they will be switched to the Northern League. Again.
Chalfont St. Peter Position: 16/22
A strange season for long-serving manager Danny Edwards's Chalfont side, the Saints were as high as fifth in the table in November and also went further in the FA Cup than any other Division One Central side, before a thirteen-game winless run saw them eventually slump down the league, although the South Bucks side have been consistent - now finishing 16th-14th-16th in the last three seasons. If they can keep hold of, and get the best from, striker Tony Mendy next season - who scored four goals in eight games after joining late on - then he could help fire the South Bucks side up the reckoning next year.
Daventry Town Position: 19/22
A difficult season for Daventry's fans to endure as the side who just missed out on the league championship last season found themselves struggling at the wrong end of the table this. A major budget cut in October lead to the departure of a large number of the playing squad and manager Darran Foster, with his replacement, former Watford striker Allan Smart, having to oversee a squad rebuilding exercise in his first managerial role. Like Bedford, Daventry were never in serious relegation danger, but will be looking for better next season.
Egham Town Position: 15/22
A shaky start coupled with an early FA Cup exit at the hands of Abingdon United cost manager Lee Passmore - who had lead the club back into the Southern League a year earlier - his job, whilst his replacement Luke Muldowney only lasted three months in his player/manager role before Koo Dumbaya and Trevor Norris were appointed as joint managers. Results were up and down throughout the season, culminating in a comfortable midtable finish, whilst a long run in the Red Insure Cup ended with semi final defeat at Premier Division Championship hopefuls Poole Town.
Godalming Town Position: 8/22
Having been transferred back to the Central division in the summer, Godalming's finish of 8th represented a big improvement on the 18th they posted the season before in Division One South & West - with the goals of striker Jack Mazzone, particularly in the early stages of the season, a key ingredient in their upturn. Impressive wins against playoff candidates Aylesbury FC and Royston Town suggest the Gs could go higher, only to then suffer some disappointing defeats such as at AFC Hayes.
Hanwell Town Position: 7/22
A great first year back at this level for Hanwell Town saw the Geordies challenging in the playoff positions for much of the season and topping the table twice, before running out of steam somewhat in the closing stages. Having achieved so much for the club, manager Ray Duffy announced his departure at the end of the season, and will be succeeded by Harefield United boss Phil Granville for 2015/16.
Kettering Town Position: 1/22 (Promoted as Champions)
Red hot title favourites prior to the season, Kettering didn't disappoint as they topped the table for most of the campaign - eventually winning the league by some eleven points ahead of Royston Town whilst enjoying a 14-game unbeaten run along the way. Whilst their season may have been missing any notable cup achievements, The Poppies will now take their place in the Premier Division two years after their relegation - mission accomplished.
Leighton Town Position: 18/22
Although it looked for a time like The Reds were in serious trouble, manager Craig Bicknell managed to successfully navigate Leighton away from the bottom two and keep the club in the Southern League once more in his first season in charge, having joined from Ampthill Town last summer. With Aylesbury United having moved out of their groundshare at Bell Close, resources are likely to be stretched even further next year and the challenge will be to do the same again.
Marlow Position: 10/22
One of the four of clubs that included the Ducks, Egham Town and St Ives Town promoted in 2013, Marlow completed another safe mid-table finish in their second season back in the Southern League, although there was a disappointing early FA Cup exit at the hands of Milton United. Scoring goals was a problem for the Blues throughout the campaign, with 58 league goals for the lowest of any of the top 17 sides - former Maidenhead striker Lee Barney weighing in with 24 of those. Finding someone to share the burden will be a priority for Mark Bartley if the South Bucks side are to progress further.
North Greenford United Position: 21/22 (Relegated)
The fifth season in the Southern League could be the last for North Greenford, who, having finished just outside in each of their four previous years, ended up in the relegation places and now face an anxious wait to see if a reprieve is on the cards. In the bottom two from the end of November, an improved end to the season which included only three defeats in the final two months at least saw them climb off the foot of the table, but the damage of long winless and losing runs had already been done.
Northwood Position: 11/22
Former Aylesbury player Mark Burgess's second full season as manager of Northwood brought about another midtable finish. The loss of a number of key players last summer meant a new look squad, which will make that achievement more satisfying, but the veteran remained the lynchpin at the heart of Woods defence and, along with twin brother James, cannot play on forever, so further reinforcements will be needed in the off-season.
Potters Bar Town Position: 14/22
Under young player/manager Jack Friend, the Scholars made a flying start to the season that saw them in the top four for much of the early stages. Things began to unravel fast though, and only three wins in the next three months eventually saw Friend step down and his assistant Steve Ringrose step up, at least until the end of the season and oversee some improved results and three straight wins in February/March. Striker Josh Hutchinson was the Division One Central overall top scorer.
Royston Town Position: 2/22
The Crows enjoyed a barnstorming end to the season that saw them record nine-straight wins and fourteen games unbeaten in February-April, which were both seasonal records for the division, as they eventually finished runners up to Kettering Town. Prior to that it had looked like the Crows might miss out on the playoffs for a second year in a row as some disappointing results saw them languishing on the outside. Although Steve Castle's team turned it on when it mattered to ensure their qualification, they were unable to raise their game enough to see off Barton Rovers, and were knocked out on penalties in the playoff semi final.
Rugby Town Position: 6/22
After two seasons as runners up, finishing outside the playoffs was a poor return for one of the pre-season promotion favourites, and ultimately cost manager Dave Stringer his job after three years in charge. Never higher than third in the table, Rugby also lost the services of their all-time leading Southern League goalscorer David Kolodynski, who defected to Champions elect Kettering Town midway through the campaign.
St Ives Town Position: 9/22
Ricky Marheineke's first season in charge was a resounding success, as he lead St Ives to a 9th placed finish which was an improvement on the 11th they achieved a year earlier - which was their first season at this level having been promoted in 2013. Another club who had reshaped their squad last summer, it will be interesting to see whether further progress can be achieved next season, but the signs are good.
Uxbridge Position: 12/22
Yet another comfortable midtable season for the long serving Tony Choules and Uxbridge, this campaign has seen a number of youngsters blooded in as they join the 'old guard' of a very settled squad at Honeycroft. Choules once again set up a dangerous attacking outfit, with their 'goals for' tally the best of any side outside the top nine.
