Candi United player-manager Nick Wigmore, on the ball, is juggling injuries and departures but insists his team are well-placed to mount a title challenge

INJURIES and exits haven’t dampened down Camden & Islington United’s title aspirations in the Middlesex County Football League.

The club, better known as Candi United, missed out on being crowned Premier Division champions by just one point last season in controversial fashion. Needing just a draw from their final game against title rivals SL Benfica, Candi lost 2-1 after a late equaliser from Ryan Pickles was “wrongly” ruled out for offside.

Eager to now go one better this time around, Candi currently find themselves six points behind leaders Eagles Land Cricklewood after stretching their unbeaten run to 11 games on Saturday with a 5-2 victory over Kodak at Harrow Weald Recreation Ground.

Having come off the bench to score two of those goals, player-manager Nick Wigmore said that his new-look starting line-up is well-placed to mount another title challenge.

He said: “About 10 or 15 players from the squad that we had last season are unavailable, either due to long-term injuries or because they have since left the club.

“We have lost a number of really good players over the years and have always continued to do well, as we are proving yet again this season.”

Assessing what it will take to overhaul current pacesetters Cricklewood, Wigmore added: “There are plenty of good teams in the top half of the table, and I think we are all going to take points off each other. We know that we are capable of beating anyone, and are capable of going on winning runs – and when you can do that, you are always in with a chance.”

Candi showcased their firepower on Saturday when they came from behind to blitz Kodak thanks to efforts from Jonny Ding, Billy Doyle, Wigmore’s double and, for good measure, an own-goal. Rynelle Usher was named man of the match after capping a standout performance with a couple of assists.

If Candi are going to land glory this season, however, they are going to have to do it without their star striker.

Pickles scored over 100 goals for Candi’s first-team, but has now joined Barking FC, who play two tiers higher.

“Losing your top-scorer isn’t ideal, but we have proved already that we have the quality in our squad to cope,” said Wigmore. “As a club, you always want your best players to go on and play at the highest possible level. We wish Ryan all the very best.”

Elsewhere in the top-flight of the league, Camden United – not to be confused with rivals Candi United – thumped Hilltop 2nds 5-0 to move third in the table.

Tomasz Siemienczuk opened the scoring before turning provider to set up Endrit Feka for Camden’s second. Rinor Plepolli added a third before Andi Feka struck twice.