A North Division play off special!

Brentwood Town have found form again at just the right time, climbing to fourth, winning their last three matches and opening up a four point gap on the side in sixth place. They travel to face another of the contenders for a play off spot tonight, Dereham Town, the Magpies knowing that a win could put them into the top five if Grays Athletic fall to defeat. The Magpies need to put a run together, as they’ve won two of their last five and lost the other three, albeit narrowly, including late heartbreak as they hosted Canvey Island last weekend.

The last time they met, in early November, the Blues won two-nil, Tom Richardson opening the scoring. The Blues striker is now up to twenty eight goals for the season.

Fifth place Grays Athletic can’t afford to drop any more points, as Hashtag United are behind them only on goal difference, and there are only three points between themselves and the side in ninth, Maldon & Tiptree. Athletic have taken only one point from their last three matches, whilst tonight’s hosts, Hullbridge Sports, need the points for an entirely different reason. Sports, third from bottom, have a game in hand over the two sides above them, and would go above both Witham Town and Basildon United by winning it.

When the two met at Parkside back in October, Athletic won by the only goal- but this Sports side looks much improved when compared to the side from five months ago.

Felixstowe and Walton United could go into the top five with victory over Maldon & Tiptree tonight-and have a game in hand over the two of the three sides directly above them, and two in hand over Hashtag United. The Seasiders got back to winning ways at the weekend after two defeats, whilst the Jammers, who would need a victory of epic proportions to go into the top five even if Grays and Dereham were to lose, have entered a period of fine form, losing only one of their last ten.

This is their first league meeting of the season, the second scheduled for Easter Monday. The Jammers most certainly have their destiny in their own hands, because as well as these two matches against the Seasiders their last seven games also include fixtures against Canvey Island, Stowmarket Town and Grays Athletic.

When the two met in the FA Trophy back in October, a one-one draw was followed by a Seasiders win from the spot, seven-six.

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