Edgbaston FC 2–1 Pendle Athletic: three in a row

Opinion

Edgbaston FC have won three on the bounce. It is a run of form that suggests a certain level of stability. They beat Pendle Athletic 2-1 on Sunday 23 August, which is the third consecutive victory in a league that usually prefers to keep things unpredictable.

It is a modest streak. There were no miraculous long-range screamers, just the sort of functional football that keeps a manager from being questioned about his tactical flexibility. They have developed a knack for winning by a single goal (a very narrow margin). It is a precise, slightly boring way to climb the table.

Stepney FC and Marlborough United are currently preoccupied with the view from the top, but Edgbaston are quietly drifting into the conversation. They aren't quite shaking the foundations of the league yet, but they are making the neighbours nervous.

The victory over Pendle was professional. It lacked any genuine drama, save for one player who spent most of the second half arguing with a linesman about a throw-in.

There is very little time to celebrate. The next matchday arrives tomorrow, and in this league, a three-game winning streak is usually the signal for a sudden, inexplicable return to mediocrity. To be fair, they have earned the right to feel confident. Whether that confidence manifests as a fourth win or a sudden fondness for the draw remains to be seen. We go again.