Can Stoke extend their lead?

Basingstoke Town, with eight consecutive wins under their belts and a seven point lead at the top, welcome fourth place Chertsey Town for what looks like a tricky night at Winklebury. Triumph, however, and they may be able to extend their lead to double figures, as their two closest rivals play each other. Stoke have been well-nigh unstoppable of late, with thirteen wins from their last fourteen matches, and given they defeated the Curfews three-nil on their own patch in mid September their confidence should be sky high. Their visitors have seen their last six matches follow a L-W-L-W-L-W pattern, but with only three points between them and sixth place Marlow the Curfews will be desperate to add another W to that list.

Third place Northwood, leaders for much of the season, welcome second place Walton & Hersham. The Swans are five unbeaten and have won their last four, whilst the Woods have hit a sticky patch, with two wins and four defeats from their last six. The sides have already met twice this season, the Swans winning both encounters, two-one in the league and one-nil in the Velocity Cup- and this one looks a must-win if either side harbour ambitions of catching the leaders.

Binfield, in fifth place, welcome the challenge of Thatcham Town tonight- and it may well indeed be a challenge, as the Kingfishers are in fine form, having lost only one of their last ten matches. The Moles fell to defeat in Guernsey at the weekend, but that was only their second defeat in ten, and they need to avoid another with Marlow hoping to knock down their Mole Hill. Thatcham are eleventh, but only seven points behind their hosts.

Marlow will hope to climb back into the top five as they host Ashford Town. They’ve hit a bit of a rough patch, losing their last two, whilst the Tangerines were looking much improved before their defeat at Walton at the weekend. Marlow’s trip to the Robert Parker Stadium in September saw them win three-nil despite finishing the match with ten men.

Seventh place South Park could return to the top five if the Moles and Marlow slip up, but they’ll have to win a local derby against Chipstead to do so. The Sparks seem to have turned around some inconsistent form and have taken four points from their last two matches- whilst the Chips got back to winning ways at the weekend and have lost only two of their last ten. The Sparks won their last meeting, in August, by a goal to nil.

Finally, Uxbridge, down in fourteenth place, host the side five places and five points ahead of them, Westfield. Neither side are in particularly good form, each of them winning only two of their last ten matches.

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