Can Bowers apply pressure to the Trawler Boys in the title race?

Leaders Lowestoft Town have a five point lead but no match this weekend as they are the odd one out of our nineteen sides, so second place Bowers and Pitsea could cut their lead to two points if they can win at Basildon United. Bowers have hit top form at just the right moment, winning their last eight matches, and are six points behind the Trawler Boys with a game in hand so will hope to- at the very least- keep the title race alive until the final day. The hosting Bees have seen their play off hopes depart after a five match winless run, but have still performed superbly for much of the campaign and will hope to end it on a high, and gain revenge for a two-one defeat at the Len Salmon in November.

Third place Felixstowe and Walton United have slipped to seven points behind the leaders, albeit with a game in hand- but with only three matches left to play that might be too much of a gap to bridge. The Seasiders are back on their own patch, Witham Town the visitors- and after only one win in five the hosts will want to get back on track with those Play Offs to come.

Bury Town have had a fine second half to their season, and head to Walthamstow with their play off place secured and a chance to end the East Londoners play off ambitions once and for all. Our fourth place side have only one defeat from ten- indeed they have only one defeat from twenty two- whilst Walthamstow find themselves five points away from fifth place with only two matches left to play, two fewer than the side occupying that fifth place, Brentwood Town. They also have a far inferior goal difference to the Blues, so will have to win both of their remaining matches and hope that Brentwood lose all four of those if they are to gatecrash the end of season party.

Brentwood Town know that victory at Wroxham- or indeed victory in any of their four remaining matches- will guarantee their play off spot, but won’t yet have given up on a top three finish and home advantage. The Blues lost to Bowers on Tuesday night, their third defeat from ten, and will want to quickly put that behind them, whilst the Yachtsmen have only one defeat from six and will want to end the season on a high.

Two sides who will want a positive end to the season are Brightlingsea Regent and Heybridge Swifts, in eighth and seventh and meeting at the Taydal. Swifts can still mathematically make a play off spot but will need to win their three remaining matches and hope for a Brentwood implosion, and to bounce back from an implosion of their own, a five-one hammering at the hands of Walthamstow in midweek. Regent have been in super form, having won their last five whilst conceding only one goal- and indeed having won seven of their last eight. They’ll be disappointed that their revival came too late for them to get involved in the play off chase, but they’ll want to go out on a high as good preparation for next season.

Maldon and Tiptree welcome New Salamis, Redbridge- winners of the Essex Senior Cup- welcome Norfolk Senior Cup holders (and finalists again) Gorleston, Grays Athletic play host to Stowmarket Town, and Enfield welcome Ipswich Wanderers to Bishop’s Stortford.

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