After earning promotion to the Aldi Men’s Premier South last season, East London are facing a battle to remain in the league.
They currently occupy the bottom space in the southern division of the top league in BUCS Men’s football, having picked up just one point from a possible 24.
There are just two games left, with only two wins meaning East London will avoid the playoff for their place in the top division.
The playoffs beckon for East London
Instead of the system of promotion and relegation as seen in professional football throughout Europe, with playoffs being used instead.
The team who finishes bottom of the Aldi Men’s Premier South has two games to earn their place in the league for the following season. A second chance to make up for the failures in the league throughout the season.
In East London’s case, they will have to play two of the top teams from the South-Eastern Tier 1 and Western Tier 1. Each team will play each other once, with the team with the most points coming out on top.
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If there are teams level on points, the team who either is promoted or relegated will be decided by goal difference.
However, this may not prove to be the sides who finish top. British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) state that each university can only have one team in the top tier of BUCS men’s football.
Therefore, this means if a university’s second team finishes top of either of the aforementioned leagues, they will be ineligible from competing in the playoffs, with the team who finishes second taking their place.
Reading and Chichester joint in race for promotion to Aldi Men’s Premier South
In the South Eastern Tier 1, only two points separate the top four, meaning it is all to play for when it comes down to who will get a chance for promotion.
Reading and Chichester currently lead the way, each sitting on 12 points. However, Chichester hold the advantage in the race for promotion, given they have two games in head over Reading.
Chichester have only been beaten once this season, and lead the way in the goalscoring charts, having found the net 16 times. They average over three goals a game this season, having conceded just seven in their five matches.
They are not the only horses in the race, with Portsmouth and Essex not far behind. In fact, a win for Essex in their game in hand could see them top the league, even though they currently sit in fourth.
Cardiff Met four points clear in the Western Tier 1
There is not as much drama in the other league that will send a team to be involved in the playoffs; something that Cardiff Met will be thankful for.
The Welsh side are unbeaten in the league this season, dropping points on just two occasions in draws to Cardiff and Hartpury 2’s. Whereas the highlight of Chichester in the South Eastern Tier 1 is their attack, it is the defence that is the standout for Cardiff Met.
They have only conceded three goals in seven games this season. In comparison, the three teams below them have each conceded nine goals- three times more.
Although Bristol may seem off the pace in third, two wins in their two games in hand could see them pose a genuine threat in the Aldi Men’s Premier South promotion race.
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