A 3-2 defeat of Dowty Dynamos coupled with a surprise loss for Andoversford saw Cheltenham Civil Service open up a five-point lead at the top of Division One with just five games played, writes Rob Morrison.

While many of their rivals were in County Cup action this weekend, Service were one of four teams who were able to focus on the league as they travelled to Kings with the carrot of an eight-point lead dangling in front of them.

It is still early days as the Cheltenham League, sponsored by Bristol Street Motors Cheltenham Ford, enters October; however, points on the board, whenever they are won, are always advantageous when fixtures start to come thick and fast at the end of the season.

Despite sitting nine points behind their opponents at kick-off, Kings were fresh from handing Andoversford, Service’s closest rivals, their first defeat of the season following their 2-1 victory the previous Saturday.

After scoring 11 goals in their opening five games, Stu Midwinter was proving to be a key man in the Service team and someone who Kings would need to mark closely.

However, Midwinter ended the match with another two goals to his name, although he was eclipsed by Connor Hart who scored a hat-trick as Service won 8-2.

In the other game, Newton also had their eye on the upper reaches of the table as they travelled to Worcester Olympic. Victory would propel Wayne Baker’s men into third place, second if they won by more than nine goals. A 1-1 draw last time out against a notoriously tricky Bishop’s Cleeve III team set them up well for the game.

Worcester went into the match with a somewhat mixed record. Four points from five games left them in ninth place at the start of the day and it is games like this they need to secure points from if they are to avoid a relegation battle come March.

With the added incentive of the opportunity to overtake their visitors, the game witnessed 11 goals, but it was the visitors who took all three points with a 7-4 win.

County Cup matches also disrupted the league action in Division Two with just six teams in action.

After tasting defeat for the first time the previous weekend in a game that saw Daniel Warriner red carded, top-of-the-table The Beeches knew that more dropped points this weekend could open the door for the teams below them.

After shipping four goals without reply to Cheltenham Civil Service Reserves last time out, they were hoping they would have more luck against a Fintan team who had managed just three points from their opening four games. The three points did go The Beeches way after they won 5-1.

Despite it being October, Cheltenham Civil Service Reserves have only played three league games, although the nine-point return, including three from their match against The Beeches, will have left rookie manager Dan Midwinter with a big smile.

Hosting a Hanley Swan team this weekend who had won three of their four games, and sat directly below them in fourth place, Service faced another test of their title credentials.

Both teams knew that victory could, if The Beeches dropped points, propel them into top spot. In the end, top spot was not an option following The Beeches win. However a 4-0 Service win leaves them with their 100 per cent record still intact.

Pittville United may only have three points but, apart from a ‘blip’ against The Beeches, they have proved to be competitive opponents; two of their three losses were by a single goal.

They hosted a Gala Wilton Reserves team on Saturday knowing that a win would take them above their opponents and into midtable. Despite their previous results, it was Gala who took all three points after defeating their hosts 5-3.

It didn’t get any easier this weekend for Cheltenham Civil Service III. After taking Windyridge Rovers’ 100 per cent record last weekend and limiting the prolific Dave Keylock to a single goal, they faced the other team in Division Three with a 100 per cent record, AFC Renegades.

With four wins from four starts, Rovers started the day in pole position but are fully aware of the threat from teams around them including Windyridge and St Paul’s United.

Coming into the game off the back of a 3-1 defeat of Dowty Dynamos Reserves, Renegades showed their class with a 7-1 win to remain in pole position.

Who exactly that threat to Renegades may come from would be clearer come 5pm as Windyridge and St Paul’s United faced each other at Swindon Village.

And the answer was St Paul’s as they beat Rovers 4-1 to leave Renegades looking over their shoulders.

Cheltenham United and Falcons Reserves have not had the best start to the season with just three points between the pair of them, all of which belonged to Falcons.

They met in the early kick-off at All Saints Academy and couldn’t be separated after 90 minutes, earning a point each following a 2-2 draw.

FC Barometrics III’s winning start to the season was ended the previous weekend when they lost 2-1 against St Paul’s. Looking to bounce back to winning ways they hosted a Leckhampton Rovers team that were yet to taste defeat in the league, including a draw against St Paul’s.

At full-time it was Baros who were cheering after recording a 4-1 win.

After four matches Dowty Dynamos Reserves were yet to claim a point. Kings Reserves, their opponents at the weekend, were in a similar position from their three matches.

With at least one team guaranteed to get their first point on the board, the match promised to be a tight affair. After 90 minutes it was Kings who got points on the board following a 4-1 win to leave their opponents the only pointless team in the division.

Ray Meah was the hero for Kings, scoring a hat-trick with the first coming from the penalty spot after he had been brought down. Dynamos were level before the break, but soon after half-time Constable put Kings back in front and then it was the Meah show as he completed his treble.

In the final game in the division Charlton Rovers Reserves hosted FC Lakeside Reserves. After strong performances last season, the two teams would be keen to establish themselves as title contenders although both have dropped points already this season.

At full time Lakeside were the happier team following their 2-1 win, although a nine-point gap between them and top spot leaves them with a lot to do.

Three teams continue to boast a 100 per cent record in Division Four and all three were in action this weekend.

Malvern Vale topped the table at the start of play, having played a game more than the other two and they looked to preserve this lead when they hosted Gala Wilton III.

Gala had won two of their previous four outings and surprised the leaders with a 4-1 win to open the door for the other two.

Prestbury Rovers Reserves are another team who boasted a 100 per cent record going into the weekend and they faced a Fintan Reserves team who have been struggling for points. The game went according to the formbook as Prestbury hammered their visitors 10-0.

The other team with a 100 per cent record at kick-off belonged to Welland Reserves. They faced a Smiths Athletics Reserves team who will have been disappointed with just their two wins from five matches following relegation last season. However, an 8-1 Smiths win took Welland’s unbeaten record to leave Prestbury as the only remaining unbeaten team in the division.

After picking up their first points last weekend Bishop’s Cleeve Development Reserves were looking to extend their winning run against an Andoversford III’s team who had yet to win a point.

And Cleeve made home advantage count as they eased to a 5-1 win to leave Andoversford languishing at the wrong end of the table.

With three points apiece the Cheltenham Saracens III’s game against Malvern Vale Academy looked to be a close run affair on paper. Despite home advantage it was the visiting team, Vale, who took all the points with a 4-2 win.

In the final match in the division, Woodmancote United hosted Winchcombe Town Reserves. Sitting in fourth and fifth place respectively, the game promised to be an intriguing affair with victory potentially indicating which team had the greater credentials to push the teams at the top. A 4-1 win for Woodmancote leaves the newly formed team well placed to challenge for honours.