All points North!

We might have fewer North Division fixtures this weekend, but goodness, what we have looks rather tasty!

We start at Barking, where Romford, who started their campaign with a goalless draw in Canvey last weekend, host form side Aveley. The Millers are averaging three goals a game, have won each of their three matches so far, and are showing exactly why they are title favourites, whilst Romford are also highly fancied and will be desperate to get a victory over a side they hope to be competing with for promotion.

Last season’s runaway leaders, Maldon & Tiptree, have a much changed side this season- but have still managed to win two FA Cup matches and draw in the league since we kicked off. They host Brentwood Town, another side who had a squad revamp during the summer, and who are also expected to be amongst the promotion hopefuls. The Blues lost to Grays Athletic last weekend, but bounced back to progress in the cup in midweek.

Grays bring Canvey Island to Parkside. The Gulls defeated Dereham Town in the cup in midweek, and are expected to have a strong season, helped by bringing in half of Heybridge Swifts team from the previous campaign amongst their impressive signings. Athletic have three wins from three in all competitions so far, and will be confident of recording another.

Tilbury are amongst our promotion favourites after a strong showing last season. The Dockers defeated Cambridge City by the only goal of the game last weekend, whilst their visitors, Dereham Town, were losing narrowly at Aveley. The Magpies would undoubtedly say that their FA Cup defeat to Canvey in midweek was unfortunate, seeing as they had their keeper sent off early on, so will be hopeful of thwarting the Dockers to pick up their first point or points. When the two last met, in February, a very late goal from Eljay Worrell gave Tilbury the points.

Finally, neither Coggeshall Town or Heybridge Swifts have had the starts to the season they would have wanted. The Seed Growers lost to AFC Sudbury in their opening league fixture and departed the cup against Stansted in midweek, whilst much changed Swifts have lost both of their fixtures so far and their new squad are still finding their feet.