With the Christmas break now a distant memory, teams in the Cheltenham League, sponsored by Bristol Street Motors Cheltenham Ford, have a number of competitions to focus on as we enter the business end of the season, writes Rob Morrison.

Last weekend the big focus was on the new Senior Cup competition, while this week it was County Cup quarter-finals that were grabbing the attention.

Bishop’s Cleeve III are still battling for honours on four fronts and while the league is looking like a step too far, the County Cup will definitely be a competition that manager John Hunt believes his team can go all the way in. They faced fellow Division One club Newton in an all Cheltenham League battle and duly dispatched them 4-0.

Cheltenham Civil Service were also in County Cup action, again in an all Cheltenham League tie as the Division One leaders hosted Andoversford, a team they have beaten twice in the last month. By 3.45pm on Saturday it was three defeats as Service moved into the semis with a 5-1 win.

While those four clubs were focusing on the cup, there were three league matches including an important tie at the top of Division One, where second-placed Upton Town played fourth-placed Tewkesbury Town. Defeat for either team would all but end their hopes of catching Service.

As the teams left the pitch it was ‘Up Tom’ who were smiling. A 1-0 win left them six points ahead of their opponents.

In the second match, third-placed Dowty Dynamos travelled to Kings. Dowty went into the game off the back of a heavy defeat at Division Two Gala Wilton Reserves, and a second consecutive defeat against lower placed opposition would severally dent their confidence. And unfortunately for them it is exactly what happened as they slumped to a 6-1 defeat.

The final match in the division saw Shurdington Rovers face RSG. Both clubs are at the wrong end of the table and with points at a premium this was an important game. And it was Rovers who took the honours with a 5-1 win.

Division Two clubs were also well represented in the County Cup with five of the eight spaces taken by them. While Gala Wilton Reserves, Cheltenham Civil Service Reserves and FC Barometrics Reserves all faced opposition outside of the Cheltenham League, Tewkesbury Town Reserves travelled to league rivals Fintan.

By 3.45pm Gala, Baros and Fintan had all won a place in the semi-finals.

In Division Two, Pittville United dropped to the bottom of the table last week following a three-point deduction. They were looking to move back up the table but faced a real challenge in the shape of third-placed Southside Star FC Reserves. The size of the challenge was reflected in the result as Star eased to a 4-0 win.

Pittville’s points loss was Andoversford Reserves gain, as they moved off the foot of the table for the first time this season. The odds were stacked against them moving further ahead this week as they faced league leaders The Beeches. A 5-3 win for the leaders showed why they are in pole position

The final game in the division saw fourth meet fifth as Bredon Reserves played Hanley Swan. Both clubs kicked off on 18 points although Bredon had played one game more. The proximity in the table was not reflected in the result as Swan stunned their opponents with a 6-1 win

Four Division Three clubs were in County Cup action including AFC Renegades and Kings Reserves.

There was also an all Division Three tie as Cheltenham Civil Service III played FC Barometric III.

Although Service’s form has improved in the last month, they faced real competition in a Baros team who took unbeaten record of St Paul’s in the last round. Despite beating St Paul’s, Baros found Service a tougher challenge as they slipped to a 2-0 defeat.

St Paul’s do have the consolation of topping the table and they knew they could extend their lead further when they faced FC Lakeside Reserves, who started the day in 12th. The teams met the weekend before Christmas when St Paul’s put nine past Lakeside without reply so they were strong favourites. And so it proved as the table-toppers hit seven without reply.

Cheltenham United were just one point and one place ahead of Lakeside at kick-off and they faced a tough challenge in the shape of Brockworth Albion Reserves. Victory for United would really relieve the pressure at the bottom for them. However, Albion were not in a charitable mood as they took the points with a 2-0 win.

Windyridge Rovers took Division One RSG all the way in the cup the previous weekend before losing on penalties. Starting the day in third, the title looks beyond their reach after they lost 4-0 to Charlton Rovers Reserves.

Dowty Dynamos Reserves played Leckhampton Rovers Reserves in the final game in the division with both clubs in the congested mid-table. Victory for Rovers would take them above their opponents on goal difference and a 3-1 victory ensured this was the case.

There was a healthy contingent of Division Four clubs who were competing in the County Cup this weeken. While Gala Wilton III and Bishop’s Cleeve Development Reserves faced non-Cheltenham League opposition leaders, Prestbury Rovers Reserves were looking to extend their excellent season against Winchcombe Town Reserves.

While Cleeve slipped to defeat, Prestbury and Gala did enough to make the semi-finals.

With Prestbury in cup action, second-placed Woodmancote United had an opportunity to move three points clear, although they would have played four more games than Prestbury. They travelled to fifth-placed Welland Reserves knowing top spot beckoned.

Despite the potential prize, it was Welland who took the points following a 3-2 win.

Another team competing at the right end of the table are Malvern Vale FC First and they would have been confident of taking all three points against bottom club Charlton Rovers III who are yet to claim a point.

That confidence proved to be well placed as they eased to a 5-1 win.

They may have started the day 10 points and two places above Charlton Rovers but Cheltenham Saracens III know that there is still a long way to go as they prepared to take on the team directly above them, Andoversford III, knowing victory could make their end of season much more comfortable.

Saracens were unable to cash in however as they were beaten 4-0

In the final game, Smiths Athletic Reserves travelled to Malvern Vale Academy. The teams started the day on 18 points and this promised to be a keenly contested affair. And so it proved as Vale shaded it by the odd goal in three.

Other results – GFA County Minor Cup: Charfield Res 2 Kings Res 4, Cheltenham CS 3rds 2 FC Baros 3rds 0, Mitcheldean 1 AFC Renegades 3.

GFA Primary Cup: Abbeymead R 3rds 4 Gala Wilton 3rds 4 (Gala won 5-3 on pens), Prestbury R Res 1 Winchcombe T Res 0, Ramblers Res 3 Bishop’s Cleeve Dev Res 1.

GFA County Intermediate Cup: Chalford Res 0 Gala Wilton Res 2, Fintan 3 Tewkesbury T Res 1, Poulton 3 Cheltenham CS Res 1, Quedgeley W 2 FC Baros Res 6.

GFA County Junior Cup: Cheltenham CS 5 Andoversford 1, Newton 0 Bishop’s Cleeve A 4.