Another wet weekend in the Isthmian League

We have a somewhat reduced programme of fixtures this weekend- and given the weather we’ve been having we’ve a feeling it will be reduced much further before kick off. So here’s a significantly smaller preview than usual- and we’ll do our best to keep you up to date with any further changes.

We’ll start in the Premier Division, where are leaders Folkestone Invicta and second placed Worthing don’t have a league match- although both are playing in the Velocity Trophy. Third place Horsham also have a free weekend, so we look first at Hornchurch, who are scheduled to travel to East Thurrock United. The Rocks don’t seem particularly confident about the state of the pitch and have scheduled an inspection at 1030 AM, but if the match goes ahead it should be a hard-fought encounter. The Urchins are six matches unbeaten in the league- although they include four draws- whilst United have won five and lost three of their last eight, but when they are good are very good indeed. A win for the Urchins will see them remain fourth, but close the gap on Horsham to two points. The Rocks could climb to sixth with a positive result. MATCH POSTPONED.

Fifth placed Carshalton Athletic start the day level on points with the Urchins, and host a Surrey derby, with Merstham taking the short trip to Colston Avenue. The Robins have five wins from six whilst the Moatsiders have only one from more than we can count without taking our socks off, but that win for the visitors came in midweek when they defeated Haringey Borough so they’ll be buoyant as they avoid the floodwater tomorrow.

Tenth plays eleventh as Leatherhead travel to Margate. The Tanners are our form team over ten matches, as they’ve won eight of them, whilst Gate are still searching for consistency and have regularly switched between brilliance and mediocrity this season. Recent results have been positive even in defeat, however, as last weekend they fell narrowly to Worthing a week after walloping then-leaders Horsham three-nil. Depending which Margate turn up, this could be tight.

Twelfth place Bishop’s Stortford travel to Brightlingsea Regent. Regent have only four points from their last thirty but seem to be on an upward trajectory at last, whilst the visiting Blues have won their last two matches by a single goal- both scored by player-boss Jamie Cureton. There will be an inspection at 0930. MATCH POSTPONED

We’ve a King George’s Field derby as Kingstonian host Corinthian-Casuals whilst being hosted by Corinthian-Casuals. This is a big charity extravaganza for both clubs, so we hope very much that it goes ahead, but there will be an 1130 AM pitch inspection. K’s have only two league defeats from their last ten- and we haven’t even discussed their fabulous cup form- whilst Casuals have only four points from the last thirty. The ‘home’ side have to be favourites, and could move up to eleventh with victory, but the ‘visitors’ are in even greater need of the points and will remain bottom even if they get them. MATCH POSTPONED.

Eighteenth hosts seventeenth as Cheshunt take on Bowers and Pitsea. The visitors arrive in their best form of the season, on the back of three consecutive victories, whilst the Ambers lost by a single goal to Bishop’s Stortford last time out but had also shown improved form, having taken four points from six prior to that. There will be a pitch inspection at 0930 AM. MATCH POSTPONED.

Finally, Wingate & Finchley host Potters Bar Town. The Blues have exactly half the points of their visitors, and given they are second bottom will be desperate to pick up some more- but they have picked up only two points from their last eighteen, six from their last thirty. The Scholars have been in mixed form, losing four-nil to Cray Wanderers last time out and defeating Brightlingsea Regent four-two in their previous match, and could climb as high as tenth with victory.

Our headline image shows Summers Lane on a day which was far more summer-like than it is expected to be tomorrow!

North Division

We should have had a North Division match tonight, but Tilbury v Maldon & Tiptree is already postponed. We have three more scheduled for Saturday, and we start in the hope that Canvey Island v Aveley will go ahead! The magnificent Millers are cutting giants down to size in cup competitions one after the other, and are going great guns in the league too, with seven wins from their last eight matches. The Gulls are also picking up nicely, having won their last two, and will be hoping that they can add to that and stop the visitors from closing to within one point of the Jammers. No pitch inspection planned as yet.

Dereham Town are scheduled to host AFC Sudbury. An inspection is already planned for 0930, and the Magpies will hope it goes ahead and that they can get back to winning ways after losing their last two. The Yellows three match unbeaten streak came to an end last time out as they lost to Cambridge City, but they have demonstrated just how good they can be on a number of occasions so far this season, so this is anything but a home banker.

Romford host Brentwood Town at Brentwood Town, but whether Brentwood Town will manage not to be under water remains to be seen. Boro have announced that there will be a pitch inspection, but we don’t yet have a time for it. Romford picked up a win last time out, whilst their ‘visitors’ have one only one of their last five, although all but one of those defeats have been by only one goal. MATCH POSTPONED.

South Central

Into the South Central Division, and our top match sees fourth place Uxbridge entertain our leaders, Hanwell Town. The hosts have only two defeats in ten and only one from the last eight, whilst the Geordies have gone off the boil just a little, winning only one of their last six- and drawing four more. MATCH POSTPONED

Town are only one point ahead of Ware, and if they fail to win could be knocked off the top by 5PM. The Blues won at Marlow in midweek, bouncing back from defeat at Tooting last Saturday, but they have a tricky match in prospect as Waltham Abbey travel to Wodson Park, the Abbotts unbeaten in seven matches. The visitors could climb up to third with victory.

The Terrors travel to South Park. Five points behind Ware they will not climb higher than third place no matter what, but given they seem to have found their form once more the rest of the table should be very afraid, indeed, Terrorfied! The Sparks won’t be too afraid, however, as they are undefeated in their last three matches. MATCH POSTPONED.

Fifth placed Westfield could climb to third if they win at Bedfont Sports and other results go their way, but winning at Bedfont Sports is no easy task. Sports have but one defeat in their last ten, whilst Field have won their last two after drawing the previous four.

Sixth place Chertsey Town will be travelling around the M25 until they get to the High Road, where they will face Chipstead. A run of six matches without a win for the Curfews came to an end last weekend as they walloped Staines Town four-nil, whilst the Chips have won their last three matches and will be looking to make it four. There will be a pitch inspection at 10AM. MATCH POSTPONED.

Marlow will host a much changed Bracknell Town side who have brought in a collection of new players this week, and who defeated Hornchurch in the Velocity Trophy on Wednesday. If the game gets past a 10AM pitch inspection then Marlow will be hoping to get back to winning ways. They are always difficult to defeat and have only lost three out of their last ten, but have only won two during the same period. The Robins have won only one of their last six league matches but, as mentioned, were much improved in midweek. MATCH POSTPONED.

Ashford Town host Staines Town. Neither club have ripped up any trees this season, which is why they are nineteenth and seventeenth, and neither side have a win in their last three matches. The Tangerines will be re-introducing a physical programme for this one, but will also have their usual electronic version available.MATCH POSTPONED.

South East

We start this evening, as leaders Hastings United will hope to get back to winning ways after suffering their first defeat of the season at Ashford United last time out. Pilot Field has passed a pitch inspection, so fingers crossed that the rain holds off for the rest of the day. It may be a close match as Bay are third in our ten match form table, just behind their hosts, with only two defeats in their last ten. MATCH POSTPONED.

Onto tomorrow, and second placed Cray Valley are scheduled to host VCD Athletic. The Millers have gone off the boil a little of late, with only one win from their last five, but their opponents have also been rather lukewarm with only one point from their last twelve. There is a pitch inspection at 10AM. MATCH POSTPONED.

Whitehawk, in third place, host a Sussex derby with Chichester City visiting the Enclosed Ground. The Hawks are our form team at present having won their last six matches, but the pitch is apparently ’50/50’ so let’s hope for no more rain- although the forecast doesn’t look kind. City have only one win from their last six- but also only one defeat, so are obviously rather difficult to beat! MATCH POSTPONED.

Whyteleafe, in fifth place, play on 3G so should expect to host Haywards Heath Town. Leafe have only one defeat in ten and are six games unbeaten, whilst Heath have only two defeats in ten but only two wins, having drawn six of them. Heath fans should keep an eye on the roads as the M23 is currently closed and nobody seems sure if it will be open by tomorrow.

We have a Kentish derby between Ramsgate and Hythe Town. The Rams have only one win in ten, and the Cannons only two- but theirs was last weekend as they walloped VCD Athletic three-nil.

Three Bridges v Guernsey has a pitch inspection this afternoon, as the Green Lions won’t want to get on a plane tomorrow if the match is off. We won’t write a preview until we know the result of that check, but Crawley was very damp indeed this morning! MATCH POSTPONED.

Finally, East Grinstead Town will hope to get Leigh Dynan’s reign off to a positive start by winning their first match of the season. Sevenoaks Town are the visitors, the Oaks looking to get back to winning ways after picking up only one point from their last nine. MATCH POSTPONED.

The Velocity Trophy sees Worthing host Cray Wanderers- that match kicking off at 1.30 PM- whilst Folkestone Invicta host Bognor Regis Town. MATCH POSTPONED.