Can Hastings regain their advantage? Can the Nuts and Bolts hold on to the summit? And do we now have a four team battle for the title?

Ashford United’s hold on the top of the South East Division is down to five goals- a legacy of their free-scoring front line, who have knocked in twenty one more than the next best strikeforce, which belongs to third place Whitehawk. The Nuts and Bolts look to have a difficult trip in prospect, as they travel to face VCD Athletic.

You never know quite what you’re going to get from the Vickers, who saw a four match unbeaten run come to an end against Sevenoaks Town last time out, turning victory into defeat in the last four minutes of the match. Ashford, by contrast, only seem to lose against sides beginning with C, Cray Valley PM and Chichester City the only ones to turn them over during the last ten games. Perhaps their hosts might change their names by deed poll to CD Athletic for one game only?

Hastings have got back to winning ways since their defeat against the Nuts and Bolts early last month, defeating Sittingbourne and Burgess Hill Town comprehensively in their last two matches. They will entertain Whitstable Town at Pilot Field, the Oysterboys having seen their form stall of late, arriving with only one point from their last three matches.

Whitehawk, in third, are six points behind the two United’s, but have two games in hand over the team at the top. They put their eight match unbeaten run to the test against Three Bridges at the Enclosed Ground, and their fans will hope for a similar outcome to the last time the two met, if perhaps less reason for them to bite their nails. In that match at Jubilee Field Bridges got to half time three-one up, only to concede four second half goals and lose five-three. Bridges have only taken seven points from their last thirty and have no wins from their last five matches, so the Hawks must be firm favourites.

Cray Valley PM, who start the day in fourth place, are eight points behind our top two- but have three matches in hand over the Nuts and Bolts and one over their Sussex coast rivals. They host Ramsgate, who are third from bottom but defeated Faversham Town comprehensively last time out and are finally looking upwards rather than over their shoulders. That won’t dampen the Millers confidence, however, as they have won their last six matches, during which they’ve scored nineteen goals.

Fifth place Herne Bay host Sittingbourne. Bay got back to winning ways last time out after two matches without a victory- and although two matches aren’t many it’s so tight at the bottom of the playoff places that they won’t want to lose any more. Their visitors are in terrible form, taking only one point from their last nine matches.

Whyteleafe, in sixth, have closed to within three points of the playoffs and have a game in hand over Herne Bay. They play host to twelfth place Hythe Town, who saw their seven match unbeaten run come to an end against Chichester City last weekend. Leafe have won their last three matches, an could go fifth with victory if Bay slip up.

Chichester City, in seventh place, have played Ashford United twice during the last seven days, both games ending three-two with one win each. Prior to that defeat on Tuesday night Chi had won four in a row, a run that has moved them to within six points of a playoff place- and they three games in hand over Herne Bay. They will look to restart their progress towards the promised land as Sevenoaks Town head along the A27, the mid table Oaks having got back to winning ways against VCD Athletic last time out.

Haywards Heath Town have climbed quietly up the table in recent weeks, and sit in eighth place. They are nine points from the playoffs but will believe they can repeat last season’s fifth place as they bring Phoenix Sports to Hanbury Park. Heath have won their last four matches, whilst Sports got back to winning ways last time out and will have their victory over Heath in January still in their minds.

A run of three straight defeats have seen Guernsey slip to thirteenth. This season the Green Lions home form has been their downfall, as they’ve lost six matches at Footes Lane, including their last two- Ashford United walloping them six-nil the last time they were hosts. Another side in green will step off the plane on Saturday as Burgess Hill Town take the trip up the A23 to Gatwick, the Hillians having lost to promotion chasing Hastings and Cray Valley in their last two matches, but they have a peculiar pattern of two wins, followed by two defeats, followed by two wins, followed by two defeats from their last eight games. They’d like that to continue for just a little longer.

Two struggling sides meet at the bottom, as Faversham Town, without a victory since January 4th, host East Grinstead Town, who have only one win all season. The Lilywhites are a massive fifteen point advantage over the Wasps, although the visitors have four games in hand and have looked much improved in recent weeks. If East Grinstead are to manage a great escape, this is exactly the type of match they’ll need to win!

Follow the BetVictor Isthmian League on Facebook and Twitter to ensure you're always up to date with the latest news.