Can Aveley slay their largest giant yet- and can the Jammers increase their lead in their absence?

East Grinstead Town, Bowers and Pitsea, Taunton Town, Biggleswade Town, Carshalton Athletic, Hornchurch, Chelmsford City. To paraphrase a Norwegian football commentator, “Your boys took one hell of a beating!”

Aveley head to Notts County on Saturday morning, where they will face the biggest crowd in Non-League football and the side that are currently seventh in the National League. And with six giants already slain, why should they fear a seventh? County defeated Yeovil Town in the last round but haven’t won since, picking up a draw against Woking and falling to defeat at Hartlepool United- although they have strengthened their squad with the loan signing of forward Scott Wilson from Oldham Athletic. Whatever the outcome, the Millers have made the football world sit up and take notice of them this season, and have nothing to fear- and having made enough history already might well be capable of making a little more. Could they find themselves in the Semi-Final draw on Monday? The pressure will be all on the home side, so you wouldn’t want to bet against it. Good luck to Keith Rowland, Craig Johnson, and all at the club. You’re making us all very proud!

Our headline image comes from David Bauckham, and you can read his piece on their victory over Chelmsford City by heading HERE. And you really should, it’s superb.

Back to the bread and butter now, and there is no truth in the rumour that we’re about to issue players in the North Division with studded wellingtons so they can still play when their pitches are under water. At the top of the league Maldon and Tiptree are looking down on the rest with an eight point cushion and singing, “catch us if you can.” They host Coggeshall Town, who have taken ten points from their last twelve and have been in fine form since the return of talisman striker Nmandi Nwachuku, who has found the net in their last five matches. The Jammers slipped up in midweek, losing to a resurgent Romford, and in their three previous matches had ground out two-one wins without showing the swagger they had earlier in the season. If the Seed Growers could cause an upset then the table might look a little more interesting.

Second place Heybridge Swifts travel to AFC Sudbury. Swifts were denied three points by a last minute equaliser from Aveley last time out, and they were denied three points by two added time goals from Canvey in the match before that; and they’ll want to ensure that pattern comes to an end this weekend. The hosting yellows have a very young side that can be rather inconsistent, but they delivered a fine three points at Grays Athletic in midweek and a repeat of that performance might make it rather difficult for the visitors.

Tilbury, in third and undoubtedly buoyed by the announcement earlier this week of a new 5 million pound stadium complex, host Soham Town Rangers. The Dockers have only lost one of their last ten and quickly bounced back from that defeat to beat Histon last time out, whilst Rangers had been going very well until their last match, where they were walloped by a resurgent Romford.

Bury Town, in fifth place, can take advantage of Aveley’s absence by leaping over them- and perhaps over the Dockers, too. To do that, however, they will need to defeat Romford, and that might be rather difficult given the form of our bottom side, who have won their last four matches and impressively defeated Maldon in midweek. Another Romford win could lift them off the bottom, depending on the performance of Felixstowe and Walton United and Basildon United. The match is being played at Witham Town.

Felixstowe are the side with most to fear from the Romford resurgence. The Seasiders are ahead of Romford only on goal difference, and have played four games more. They had a morale bosting win over Brentwood Town last weekend, and could do with another as they host Witham Town. The visitors are eight points above their hosts in the table, and drew at Dereham last time out.

Great Wakering Rovers have climbed to within six points of the playoff places after victories over AFC Sudbury and Bury Town in their last two matches. They may be able to narrow that gap still further if they can defeat Brentwood Town. The Blues have seen their resurgence come to an end with two two-nil defeats in their last two matches, and given they are still only four points above the bottom two will want to get back on form as soon as possible.

Canvey Island travel to Cambridge City only a month after the two last met, the match at Park Lane ending in a narrow win for the Gulls. Canvey have two draws and a defeat from their three matches since that victory, whilst City have played five times in that month and are in good form, having won the last three of them.

Dereham Town host Grays Athletic, and the Magpies are trying to attract a large group of Canaries to come and watch, given neighbours Norwich City play tonight. There’s a likelihood that any City fans who do decide to attend will have a far greater chance of seeing a home victory than usual- but they might also find two sides who are in decidedly mixed form, the Magpies without a win in five whilst Athletic have lost each of their last five matches and only picked up five points from the last thirty on offer.

Finally, Histon travel to Hullbridge Sports, if the hosts pitch passes inspection. The visitors have only one win in their last nine matches, whilst Sports have lost their last three, so both sides will be looking for victory- which is perhaps more vital for the hosts, who are only six points from danger.

By the way, the Sports home fixture against Cambridge City next Tuesday has been moved to Bowers and Pitsea.

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