All Points North!

We still have nine unbeaten sides in the Pitching In Isthmian North Division, but we suspect that number will drop dramatically during the Bank Holiday weekend- after all, most of them have only played twice, some only once!

Lowestoft Town are our early pace-setters, and the Trawler Boys welcome the Jammers, Maldon & Tiptree travelling to the seaside. Town started their campaign by defeating Great Wakering Rovers and Stowmarket Town, whilst the Jammers don’t yet have a point on the board, but did get back to winning ways in the cup last weekend. The two sides haven’t met in the League for twelve years, the Trawler Boys doing the double over their opponents during the 2009-10 campaign.

AFC Sudbury welcome Gorleston. The Yellows have been- expectedly- impressive so far, defeating East Thurrock United and Witham Town in the League and Stowmarket Town- after a replay- in the Cup; whilst their visitors have lost both of their league games by three goals to two, and crashed out of the cup last weekend, losing three-nil at Ipswich Wanderers.

New Salamis welcome Bury Town to Coles Park (otherwise the home of Haringey Borough). Wins over Gorleston and Brentwood Town in their opening two matches have introduced Salamis to the league in a rather positive way; whilst Town have been impressive two, yet to concede a goal in four matches- two in the cup- and having scored eight of their own.

Tilbury welcome Coggeshall Town to Chadfields. The Dockers saw their three match unbeaten start to the season end against Waltham Abbey in the Cup last weekend, whilst the Seed Growers don’t have a win in any competition yet, and have scored only one goal from their four matches- a consolation as they bowed out of the cup. The Dockers don’t have a good record against these opponents, with just one win- and three defeats- since the Town were promoted to our ranks.

Heybridge Swifts, who start the weekend in fifth, welcome East Thurrock United. Swifts have conceded only one goal in their four competitive matches so far, and scored nine of their own, with Andrew Fennell looking particularly dangerous with four. The Rocks lost their two opening League matches, against AFC Sudbury and Hashtag United, but felt a little hard done by after the Tags defeat and turned things around with a win at Clacton in the Cup last weekend.

Grays Athletic got through their opening two league matches without conceding a goal, but then conceded four to Stotfold in the Cup over two matches, eventually coming through by the skin of their teeth in midweek, coming back from two goals down to win the replay three-two. They welcome Brentwood Town, the Blues still searching for their groove and without a win in league or cup so far. Town won both meetings between the two last season, but had lost the previous four.

Felixstowe & Walton United welcome Basildon United to the seaside. The Seasiders were dumped out of the cup last weekend at Dereham Town, but had looked impressive in their win over Gorleston and draw with Brentwood in their two previous matches. The Bees have drawn both of their matches- both against sides currently in the top five- and look much tougher to beat this season- but they haven’t defeated Felixstowe in five attempts, and have lost four of them.

Hashtag United and Stowmarket Town meet in a mid table battle that we expect to be further rup the table when the return clash comes around in March. Town started the campaign by thumping Hullbridge Sports but haven’t picked up a win in their three matches since; whilst the Tags have won their last two, against East Thurrock Utd in the League and Barton Rovers in the cup, after suffering opening day defeat. Both matches between the two last season ended in draws, the last of them a three-all affair on March 19th.

Hullbridge Sports welcome Witham Town- or rather they don’t, because due to pitch issues at Sports the match has been moved to Basildon United. Town have had a fine start to the season, with two wins in the cup, one in the league, and their only defeat a narrow one to highly-fancied AFC Sudbury. Sports have so far only been able to play one league match, where they were walloped at Stowmarket, and one cup match, where they lost at Enfield. Their last four meetings have seen two wins each.

Finally, Wroxham welcome Great Wakering Rovers. Rovers have played only twice and have yet to score a goal, whilst conceding five; whilst the Yachtsmen held Bury Town to a goalless draw last time out after two defeats in their opening two matches. With Norwich City away from home, they’ll be hoping for a bumper crowd.

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