A Saturday Premier preview

By the time Saturday comes around we might have new leaders, as Horsham, Bishop’s Stortford- and even Margate and Cray Wanderers despite their mid table places- could technically take over at the summit with victory tonight. But we’re going to focus this preview on tomorrow’s fixtures, and you can find today’s preview here.

Bognor Regis Town sit on the top of the table as we write, courtesy of two wins and a draw from three and, notably, that six-one thrashing of Aveley last weekend. The Rocks may have a testing afternoon in prospect nonetheless, as they welcome Potters Bar Town to Nyewood Lane. The Scholars have won two of their three matches this season, the last one against greatly fancied Billericay Town- and three-nil at that. The last six meetings between the sides have seen two Rocks wins, three draws and only one win for the Scholars- but that was a notable four-nil thrashing of their hosts at Nyewood Lane in October 2019, which home fans will still be having nightmares about.

The Rocks are one of only three unbeaten sides in the Pitching In Isthmian Premier. Another Sussex side- Sussex sides occupy the top three places as we write- Lewes, are on the road to Corinthian-Casuals. The Rooks have looked very good in their last two home wins, against expected promotion contenders Bishop’s Stortford and Carshalton Athletic- whilst Casuals have a record of won-drawn-lost and have scored six goals whilst conceding six, so will be hoping to start a consistent run of good results. The side in pink and brown have actually taken seven points from their last nine against these opponents, so their fans won’t be entirely devoid of confidence.

The other unbeaten side, Folkestone Invicta, are on the road to Billericay Town. The hosts haven’t had the start we might have expected from them, losing their last two matches without managing a goal after a narrow opening day victory against Cray Wanderers; whilst Invicta have drawn two of their three matches but did pick up three points against Wingate & Finchley last weekend. They last met at the end of Town’s promotion season a two-two draw in April 2018, but they’ve only met four times in the last decade, Invicta wining two of those.

Hornchurch won their last two games and are beginning to grind into gear, scoring three goals in each of their last two. The Urchins travel to face another Essex side, Canvey Island. The Gulls were very good when walloping Brightlingsea Regent in their second game, but that victory is sandwiched between two defeats.

Carshalton Athletic were impressive in defeating Horsham on the road last weekend, and the Robins are back at Colston Avenue to face Haringey Borough. The visitors had a very positive pre-season but have taken only one point from their opening three matches, in last Saturday’s draw against Corinthian-Casuals. The last time the two met, at Colston Avenue in March, the hosts won three-nil- and Borough haven’t managed a victory against these opponents the last four times they’ve met.

Aveley had a brilliant start to the season before being badly derailed in that match against Bognor last weekend. The Millers are on the road to Wingate & Finchley, the Blues still looking for their first win of the campaign- but they did draw their first two. The two haven’t met in a league match for more than a decade.

Herne Bay’s match with Kingstonian has been moved to Ramsgate due to ongoing pitch work at Winch’s Field. Both sides have three points, the ‘hosts’ with one solitary win from three, the visitors with three consecutive draws. The last time they met- perhaps the only time, as we don’t think they’ve been in the same Division at any point- was an FA Cup match back in 1991-92, which the K’s won two-nil.

Hastings United will be hoping to pick up a win against a side who got their first three pointer last time out, Brightlingsea Regent. Whilst Regent were defeating Margate, United were falling to defeat at Hornchurch, but they did take a creditable point at Folkestone Invicta a few days beforehand so won’t be panicking just yet.

Finally, Enfield Town welcome Bowers & Pitsea. The Towners have two draws and a defeat from their first three matches post-Mo, although they have had a tough start, with draws against Folkestone Invicta and Kingstonian and a narrow defeat to Hornchurch. Bowers picked up their first points with a win over Herne Bay last time out, and will hope to push on from that result. The Towners won both encounters last season, with an aggregate score of seven-two, and indeed have lost only one of their four meetings so far, winning the other three.

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