Bishop’s Stortford manager Steve Castle says Southern League Premier Central is ‘craziest division’ he’s been involved with

Steve Castle was thrilled to see Bishop’s Stortford bank a festive six-point haul in what he described as “the craziest league” he has been involved with.

The Blues triumphed 2-0 at home to Redditch United on Saturday having won 2-1 at AFC Sudbury on Boxing Day.

The back-to-back victories means Stortford are 11th in the Pitching In Southern League, Premier Central, seven points away from the play-offs and three points above the relegation zone.

And only 12 points separate second-placed Halesowen Town and fourth-from-bottom Lowestoft Town.

“It’s probably the craziest league I’ve been involved with,” said Blues manager Castle, whose side host fourth-placed Bedford Town on New Year’s Day before visiting 18th-placed Alvechurch on Saturday (January 4). “There’s not a single team that can’t take points off another team.

“[Leaders] Kettering, with their unusually huge budget, are probably an exception, but everyone else is much of a muchness. It really is crazy.

“For us, getting a level of consistency, especially at home, is vital as we look to get away from the relegation places and nearer those play-off places.”

Castle confirmed former Reading striker Nahum Melvin-Lambert, who opened his account against Redditch, has signed terms while game time has been given to midfielder Andrew Bennett, who is set to be at the club for a few more weeks before returning to the USA where he is doing a scholarship.