COULD Tenbury end up lavished with silverware in the summer of 2017?

United and Town find themselves in the hunt for honours at the turn of the year courtesy of some eye-catching form during the first half of the campaign.

Yet, in a quirk of fate, the team that expected a title push has ground to make up while the manager playing down his side’s chances heads the pack.

Tenbury United, last season’s runners-up, “shouldn’t be looking at anything” other than topping the Herefordshire Premier and were in fine shape to do so until this month.

Seven straight league victories and a run to the final of the Worcestershire Minor Cup prompted dreams of a double but they have since suffered a wobble.

A 2-1 derby defeat to Orleton Colts was followed by a 5-1 thumping at the hands of Westfields Reserves, who completed a double over United in the process.

With table-toppers Hinton showing no sign of letting up, closing the 14-point gap on a team that has dropped just four points all season – albeit with three games in hand – looks a tall order.

But come what may, there will still be the prospect of a trophy to look forward to when Tenbury United take on Hanley Swan in April.

Less than five miles down the road, the league picture looks rosy for Tenbury Town in Herefordshire One.

Since their opening-day setback to Ewyas Harold Reserves, Darren Worthington’s men have not looked back.

Fownhope Reserves were walloped 5-1 before an 11-goal haul in the cup built confidence for a 10-match winning streak in the league.

Hotshot Mark Boucker heads the scoring charts with a whopping 26 from 14 matches in all competitions to date, inspiring scores of six, seven and eight along the way.

The key run came recently having faced their three nearest challengers on the road, blasting Ledbury Town Reserves 6-1, winning 3-1 at Hereford City before a 1-1 draw with derby rivals Woofferton.

But while that result halted Town’s seemingly-unstoppable run, the chance to extend their six-point gap at the top arrives in January.

They kick off 2017 with the return against Hereford taking place on January 7 and a double-header against fancied Wellington Colts – whose own bid has only been thwarted by points deductions – in the following two weeks.

The importance of that first clash with City is magnified by the fact they play rock-bottom Orleton Colts Reserves twice afterwards.

Results before Christmas would have made some start to think it is Town’s championship to lose – continue their exploits next month and it will be.