SATURDAY’S Gloucestershire County League programme was an almost complete washout with only one match – and a surprising result – occurring during an afternoon of more frustration in the current wet mid-winter.

Frampton United were due to take on mid-table Hardwicke away but that, along with bottom side Kingswood’s home game with Broadwell Amateurs and Thornbury Town’s visit to struggling Southmead CS Athletic, fell victim to the rain from Friday’s storm as the pitches they were due to be played on became waterlogged.

The only game that survived was the derby between Hanham Athletic, who are at the basement end of the table, and runaway leaders AEK Boco.

Boco had won 15 of their 18 games this season before kick-off with two draws and a solitary loss. However, Hanham managed to hold their opponents to a remarkable goal-less draw.

That result, though, does little to widen the title race as Boco took a point and still stand 12 points clear of second-placed Henbury and third-placed Frampton United at the top of the table.

And, despite both Henbury and Frampton having two matches in hand on the leaders, it is going to take quite a turn of fortunes for Boco to be caught with only a third of the season left to play.

So, if Boco do go on to win, the race for second spot is wide open, with Henbury just a point ahead of Frampton, while Bristol Telephones, Broadwell Amateurs, Patchway Town, Thornbury Town and Bishops Cleeve Reserves are bunched behind.

And, should the weather hold and pitches are playable this Saturday, there will be plenty to play for as the top sides play those in mid to bottom of the table.

Frampton have the tricky tie of facing Bishops Cleeve Reserves, who are eighth in the table and level on points with Thornbury.

They will be looking to mount a big challenge on the sides above them as well so nothing will be easy for United on Saturday as they look for victory.

But a Frampton win should give a helping hand to Thornbury who are playing last year’s champions but current strugglers Cheltenham Civil Service at the Mundy Playing Fields.

And, with four games in hand on Bristol Telephones and Patchway Town above them, seventh-place Thornbury could take a big step on their challenge for a top finish with victory.

While the battles are going on at the top of the table, at the other end, Yate Town Reserves will be out to clinch just their fourth win from 17 matches when they take on winless bottom side Kingswood.