Division one should have seen three matches played during November, though with two of these postponed the main focus for the top players was the first round of the Open Cup in which the heavyweight clash between Cheddleton and Stafford resulted in a narrow win for the latter. Alsager were unable to raise a team to visit Newcastle. It seems inevitable that Newcastle will claim this fixture, unless Alsager concede first, as there really seems to be no semblance of a suitable date before the semi-finals are due. Nor afterwards come to that.

In division two last season's top two sides Macclesfield and Newcastle B haven't managed a win between them, leaving the Cheddleton twins to set the pace.

Coming into Novemebr three third division teams were unbeaten, four were yet to record a win. Now they have all experience both victory and defeat at least once. Meir A have retained their position at the head of affairs, stretching their lead by a further point to three. Yes they've played more games than everyone else, but this certainly looks like a competition in which points on the board are worth more than games in hand even if there are plenty of sides within a good run of being in contention.

Crewe Pawns stay top of division four, though one imagines Fenton B will feel they've already nearly dropped their quota of points for the season as the defeat by Cheddleton I on its own takes them close to the 3 points let slip last year.

Division five should perhaps be called division five and a half. After ten matches 9 of the 20 sides fielded would have been eligible for a division six, with their total grade falling below 340. Clearly at least some of the teams here are out to get experience rather than to chase glory.

Two league teams are scheduled to have December off - joint leaders Cheddleton D in division two and sole leaders Crewe Pawns in division four. How much advantage of this will the others take?

Cup week saw no action in the major event, as that competition starts at the semi-final stage. Alsager, Kidsgrove and Newcastle fell at their first hurdles in the intermediate cup, these being provided respectively by Crewe, Meir and Cheddleton. In the minor cup Fenton and Alsager progressed at the expense of Crewe and Newcastle respectively.