NW FOOTBALL: Premier Division champs Wanderers in joint top spot

Looking back on the first half of the season we analyse where each of the Premier Division sides are in the table.

Lincoln Courts are joint top and they are having their best season for many years but for astute manager Kolyn Patterson that will mean nothing if at the end of the season there is no silverware.

He has some quality players with Steven Mooney and Gary King having outstanding seasons. They are well organised and should be there at the death.

Foyle Wanderers, last season’s champions, are making a bold bid to retain their crown. They currently are joint top with the Courts and they have games in hand.

They have still to taste defeat in the league but they are surprisingly out of the Irish Junior Cup and the Matt Morrison Cup. This means they can concentrate on the league.

Manager Andy McClintock has a real good mixture of experience and youth with Robbie Godfrey on fire up front and Conor Kelpie and Davy Scanlon bossing the midfield.

Ardmore as always are up near the top and manager Damien McGee has arguably the best side on paper in the league. They are within touching distance of the top two with a lot of experienced players in his ranks who know what it takes to win trophies.

Midfielder Eddie McIntyre is playing superbly and Calvin McCallion is a real goal machine.

Tullyally Colts are as usual winning their fair share of games. They have brought in a couple of new faces and that certainly has strengthened them They maybe just lack a couple of more experienced players and that may stop them from winning things, however they continue to enjoy their football.

Limavady United Drummond have found a bit of form in recent games up until then they have not been producing the level of performance that they are capable of. If they can get a good run together after the break they could still challenge for at least a top four finish.

Their amalgamation with Limavady United has certainly been a step in the right direction.

Claudy Rovers’ first half of the season has been a bit disappointing with to many defeats. However in some games they have shown what they are capable of and if they can get a full strength side out on a regular basis then they can move up the table.

Lisahally have taken a while to find their feet in the top division.

They showed in winning the Matt Morrison Cup last season that they are capable of holding their own.

They have a sound managerial team and they are as well organised as any in the league however they are in the wrong half of the table and will look to improve in the new year.

Greysteel have had a difficult few months and they are currently in the bottom three. Most of their problems has been in getting a settled side out on a regular basis this mainly due to players being involved with the successful Faughanvale Gaelic Club. Watch out for a big improvement now that they will be able to field their best side.

BBOB find themselves rooted to the bottom of the table and still without a point. It is a mystery because they have some talent in their ranks, players like Nicky Cooke, Stuart Moore and the experienced Graeme Philson. They should be doing a lot better however the table doesn’t lie, things surely must improve.