Can any of the challengers stop Maldon? Who will end up in that relegation playoff? And will our pitches ever dry out?

By Ian Townsend

So many questions, and hopefully a full programme of North Division action to help us get nearer to the answers. We did say hopefully! Here’s our preview.

Six points clear at the top, it looks as if the only thing that might stop Maldon and Tiptree taking the title is if they throw it away themselves. The Jammers have five games in hand over the sides in second and third, one game in hand over fourth place Aveley who are ten points behind, and two in hand over fifth place Tilbury who are eleven points off the summit. They travel to Parkside this weekend to take on Grays Athletic, their hosts currently on a terrible run which has seen them take only five points from their last thirty. Will Athletic’s luck change? Swifts, Bury, the Millers and the Dockers would like to hope so.

Swifts playmaker Odei Martin-Sorondo spoke in an interview this week of his side having to play “twelve cup finals” between now and the end of the season, but he’ll hope that their visitors this weekend don’t think the same way as they’ve been magnificent in cup competitions this season. Aveley are the visitors to Scraley Road having played only two league matches so far this month, both ending in draws. They’ve got a trip to Notts County in the Quarter Finals of the FA Trophy coming next, so manager Keith Rowland will need to guard against his side focusing too much on 29th February and not enough on the task immediately ahead. Swifts last league match was February 8th, and was a four-all draw with Canvey Island, the Gulls coming from two down in the last minute to grab a point.

Bury Town host Great Wakering Rovers. The side from Ram Meadow lost to Maldon last time out- but then everyone seems to do that- but had won their two previous games so will hope that the match against the Jammers was no more than a small bump in the road. Rovers have shown patchy form since mid January, and have lost five of their last seven, but got back to winning ways against AFC Sudbury in midweek and won’t yet have given up on their hopes of a playoff spot.

Tilbury lost in midweek for the first time since mid November. They travel to face Histon, their hosts without a win in three but also without a match for a fortnight due to postponements. Histon are nine points off the playoffs and will need to get back to winning ways soon if they want to be involved in the end of season finale.

Coggeshall Town host Hullbridge Sports, and we’ve illustrated this article with a sunny picture from West Street but would point out that an hour after it was taken the heavens opened and it hammered down for an hour and a half! The Seed Growers have closed to within five points of the playoffs, in no small part due to the form of returning striker Nnamdi Nwachuku, who has been back with the club for four matches and scored in all of them. The last time they played Sports they came away with a one-nil victory, but although their visitors have lost their last two matches- against the Swifts and the Jammers- they were five unbeaten before those two promotion contenders came to call.

Canvey Island won’t have given up on their playoff hopes just yet, although they start the weekend eight points off the pace. The Gulls have been bedevilled by inconsistency this season, but you could say very much the same about their visitors, AFC Sudbury having won only three of their last ten.

Soham Town Rangers have been in excellent form of late, winning five of their last six. They host a resurgent Romford, who have won their last two matches and closed to within three points of second bottom Felixstowe and Walton United. A Romford win and a Felixstowe & Walton United defeat could see Glen Tamplin’s side off the bottom.

Felixstowe will be hoping to do much better, of course. They travel to face Brentwood Town- the match being played at Tilbury due to ongoing problems with the surface at the Brentwood Arena. Brentwood have opened up a five point gap between themselves and their visitors courtesy of two excellent victories over Witham Town and Tilbury, and will be full of confidence, whilst the Seasiders have only one win in ten.
Dereham Town, who have been magnificent going forward but not as solid at the other end, will hope to turn around a run of four games without a win as they travel to Witham Town. Witham lost to Brentwood last time out, but will want to recapture the form that saw them win their two previous matches.

Finally, Basildon United host Cambridge City. The Bees got back to winning ways last time out with victory at Great Wakering Rovers, but haven’t played since 11th February, whilst City have looked in fine form, winning their last two, scoring six goals and conceding none whatsoever. The Bees are eight points off the bottom but have played two games more than Romford, whilst City, fourteen points off relegation but fifteen off the playoffs, look safe from any involvement in the end of season action at either end of the table.

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Where next?

It’s bottom v top and second v fifth. Will we have a weekend of surprises in the South Central? We have some rather intriguing fixtures scheduled for this weekend in the South Central Division. Could Northwood spring a surprise? Could Bracknell break into the top five? Might it even be dry? Here’s our preview.
Will the Mackerel Men extend their lead- or can Invicta narrow the gap? As we write this it’s still raining, so let's all pray for dry weather and a full programme of fixtures for a change. Here’s our Premier Division preview, which sadly doesn't come with free wellington boots for every reader.

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