SEDGE’S season began with a 6-2 home defeat and unfortunately didn’t get much better.

Although that opening day defeat was to Cleethorpes Town, who finished fourth, and the 5-3 loss that followed four days later was at eventual runners-up Worksop Town, they were warnings of how tough the season was going to be.

The Clayborn outfit exited the FA Cup in the third game of their campaign, losing 2-1 at Northern League outfit Seaham Red Star. Sedge’s first victory of the season came in their seventh game and it was followed by another, both 1-0 wins, away from home in the league.

However, that proved to be the only time Liversedge put back-to-back wins together, in any competition, throughout the season. Alan Colquhoun’s men finished the season fourth from bottom but, despite not reaching double figures in the wins column, they managed to stay 13 points above the relegation zone.

Retford United ended the season second bottom, below the trapdoor, but due to restructuring they were spared. All of that meant Sedge finished 16 points clear of Glasshoughton Welfare, the only club to be relegated.

One crumb of comfort for Colquhoun’s side was that they were the only team in the bottom five not to have a three-figure number in the goals conceded column.

There were very few highlights in the cup competitions as Sedge exited the FA Vase at the first time of asking, beaten 4-0 at Bedlington Terriers, and suffered a 5-0 defeat at Clipstone in the NCE League Cup.

Sedge did beat higher-ranked neighbours Ossett Town 4-1 in the West Riding County Cup first round but lost 3-1 at Tadcaster Albion in the next round.

Colquhoun stepped down after the last game of the season due to commitments outside the game but that was not what the club’s committee wanted. They knew how much effort their manager had put in and what restraints he was working under but, reluctantly, they accepted his resignation.

NCE Premier Division P W D L F A GD Pts

Liversedge 18th 40 9 7 24 46 93 -47 34