A big night at the top- and bottom

Bishop’s Stortford, two points clear at the top of the table, will be aware that third place Hornchurch are only three points behind and have a superior goal difference- so the Blues may need victory over play off chasing Canvey Island at the R&D Advisors Stadium this evening to retain their place at the summit. They are unlikely to have things their own way, however- not only did the Gulls defeat the Blues two-nil on the Island in November, but they’ve lost only one of their last ten and have a similar need for points to ensure they retain their grip on a play off spot.

The Urchins welcome fifth bottom side Kingstonian to Bridge Avenue, but whilst thirty points separate the two sides in the table that doesn’t tell the whole story. The K’s have opened up a nine point gap on the bottom four due to some fine performances under new boss Simon Lane- ten points from their last four matches and clean sheets in the last two suggests they’ll not be pushovers. The Urchins are seven without defeat, but have lost two of the last three meetings between the clubs.

Three places and four points separate Hastings United and Enfield Town- in favour of the North Londoners, who start the day in fourth place. The Towners won in Sussex as recently as Saturday, at Bognor Regis Town, whilst United were conceding a late goal at Pilot Field against another set of North Londoners, Wingate & Finchley, turning three points into one in the process. A very, very late Lewis Knight goal won their first clash of the season for the Towners, back in November- but a Hastings win might see them into the top five if Canvey come unstuck.

Horsham haven’t yet given up on their play off ambitions, and with only one defeat from ten the Hornets are only six points away. They’ll hope to close that gap at Herne Bay, whilst their hosts, third from bottom and eleven points from safety with ten matches left, will know that nothing less than three points will do. Bay have gone six without a win, but have beaten the Hornets on the Kent coast already this season, knocking them out of the FA Cup back in September. They’ll want to focus on that rather than their four-one defeat in Sussex in mid November.

Bottom side Brightlingsea Regent, with Dave Limber in charge until the end of the season after Brett Munyard’s departure, look to have a mountain to climb- thirteen points from safety with ten matches to go. They’ll pull on their crampons again tonight as Bognor Regis Town come to call, neither side in the best of form. Regent have taken one point from their last seven matches, whilst the Rocks travel on the back of five consecutive defeats- although with thirteen points between themselves and the bottom four will hope not to be drawn into a relegation battle. The two met at Nyewood Lane just over a month ago, Bognor triumphing by four games to two after being two goals down- and the Rocks have triumphed in their last four meetings.

Finally, managerless Potters Bar Town welcome Margate to the Lantern Stadium. The Scholars, who saw Lee Protheroe depart his position on Sunday, have only one win from their last ten and over their last thirteen matches have fallen from first to thirteenth; whilst Gate have won only one of their last six, but that victory did arrive on Saturday against Corinthian-Casuals. The two sides will meet again on the last day of the season.

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