It’s Big Saturday!

So it all comes down to this. Billericay Town, Horsham and Dartford all separated only by goal difference, each of them at home, each hoping to be champions on Saturday evening. It’s a terrible shame we don’t have an Isthmian helicopter! 

Billericay welcome Cheshunt. The Blues are ahead of Horsham on goal difference by one goal- although they’ve also notched two more goals than the Hornets if it were to come down to goals scored. They are hoping for a fourth win in a row, whilst the travelling Ambers, who got back to winning ways against Wingate and Finchley on Monday after losing four in a row, have nothing to play for but pride. That said, they’ll be rather keen on victory over the Blues as it will be their first, the last five meetings between the sides in league and Velocity Cup have seen Billericay win four, although the last league meeting between the sides was a one-one draw.

If Billericay take the title they’ll claim a league and cup double. The match has already SOLD OUT!

Horsham have won seven in a row and an eighth looks a must. The Hornets welcome Hashtag United, the Tags ending a good season with a three match winless run- although the last two were draws, so it isn’t as if they’ve lost their form. Horsham kick off behind the leaders only on goal difference- and by only one goal-  but they have also scored two fewer than the Blues if the title is to come down to goals scored. The Hornets defeated the Tags four-one in August, and will hope for a similar scoreline this time around! 

Third place Dartford were in first place prior to Monday’s draw at Cray Wanderers, which perhaps demonstrates just how tight this race for the title has been. At this point they need to defeat Carshalton Athletic and hope that both Billericay and Horsham fail to win, because they will kick off with a goal difference which is eight fewer than the Blues and seven fewer than the Hornets, and it is unlikely that they will be able to turn that around against a Robins side who are in seventh place and looking for a positive end to their campaign. Dartford are seven unbeaten, whilst Athletic have won their last two and put five past Dulwich Hamlet on Monday. 

The Darts won the first meeting between the sides this season by one goal to nil. 

Fourth place Cray Valley PM welcome Folkestone Invicta. The Millers are already secure in fourth spot and just wait to find out who they will travel to face in a Play Off Semi-Final, but have lost only one of ten and are hoping to end the regular campaign by making it six wins in a row. Invicta ended a five match winless run last time out, and are comfortably in mid table. 

Chichester City host Dover Athletic, sixth v fifth. Again, the two sides are separated only by goal difference, but that means that City need to win- all Athletic have to do is stop them from doing so. That said, Dover have already scored eighty goals this season- more than anyone in the Division apart from Hashtag United- and certainly aren’t set up to park the bus! City have won eight of their last ten and are searching for a fourth win in a row, whilst Athletic have taken only one point from their last two matches but tend to be very good on the road- only Dartford have taken more points on their travels. 

Athletic defeated City five-two in August.

Each of these matches is likely to have an enormous demand for tickets- we’d suggest that you follow the links HERE and purchase yours now, or be ready to be disappointed! 

Elsewhere, there is nothing left to decide. 

Dulwich Hamlet have lost six of their last seven and will just want to put the campaign behind them and focus on the next one. Chatham Town are three without a win after a previous good run and will hope to end their season on a positive note- and perhaps climb to eighth. They are also looking for a fourth win in a row against the South Londoners. 

Cray Wanderers, in tenth, have had a positive end to the season but have gone two matches without a win. They travel to face Lewes, who have lost their last two and will hope to give their fans- and their manager- a decent send off. Wands haven’t defeated the Rooks since August 2021, and lost three-one at Flamingo Park last August.

Wingate and Finchley welcome Canvey Island. The hosts haven’t been able to reproduce their successes of last season but have been very good on occasions, however only have one win from five. The travelling Gulls have a County Cup win to show for their season, but the rest of it has been rather forgettable. They have only two wins from ten, and will perhaps be delighted to see the campaign come to an end, although with safety achieved they can at least stride out on the last day with all tension removed. 

Hendon will say goodbye to Step Three alongside Bognor Regis Town, two relegated sides meeting in a green on green battle. They meet in North London looking to say farewell with a victory, and to give their long-suffering fans some hope for next season. When they met at the seaside in August the match ended two-two. 

Hastings United welcome Potters Bar Town to Pilot Field. The relegated hosts have been in better form of late, with only two defeats from six- although only one win; whilst the Scholars ended a four match losing streak with a five-one hammering of Hendon on Monday. Town are hoping to complete a Hastings double after a two-nil win in August.

Finally, bottom side Bowers and Pitsea have finally found some form, if sadly too late. They welcome Whitehawk having taken seven points from their last three matches, whilst the travelling Hawks have lost four in a row. The Hawks won two-one when the sides met last summer.