Can The Hornets take a step closer to a play off spot- and the Urchins a step closer to a century of points?

By Ian Townsend

We’ve five Pitching In isthmian Premier fixtures this evening- here’s our preview


We start with a Sussex derby, the most important match of our Tuesday Premier fixtures because it’s the only one which has real jeopardy! Horsham are currently occupying fifth place, three points ahead of their closest challengers- Billericay Town- with two games in hand; but the Hornets face a tricky trip to Lewes, the Rooks likely to be unwilling to do one of their local rivals any favours whatsoever. Horsham have won five of their last six- only regular bogey side Folkestone Invicta getting in the way of their winning streak- whilst Lewes have won their last two, and are preparing for next month’s trip to Italy where they play in the Fenix Trophy, and will want to arrive at Lake Garda on the back of a winning streak.

The Rooks won the first encounter between the sides this season by three goals to one, and haven’t lost to the Hornets at the Dripping Pan since August 2019.

We’ve run out of superlatives to describe the work of our champions, Hornchurch, who are six points from one hundred with three matches left to achieve that milestone. They are also nine goals short of a hundred of those, too, and would very much like a double century! The Urchins will be in confident mood as they travel to take on Canvey Island, whilst the Gulls will be desperate for the season to end, having had rather a fraught last couple of months. Canvey come into this one with only one win from their last ten matches. It’s been a far cry from last season, when they defeated the Urchins both home and away.

Folkestone Invicta have slipped up a little of late, losing two of their last three. The Stripes welcome relegated Concord Rangers, the Beachboys looking to do a rather rare double and, it appears, playing with a little more freedom since their demotion was confirmed, delivering a late victory in their last fixture at Hashtag United.

Potters Bar Town are back at their own Lantern Stadium after playing two home matches at Haringey Borough last week, and, rather appropriately, their visitors will be…Haringey Borough. The Scholars have lost five in a row and will want to end the season on a high, whilst relegated Borough will want the same thing but have lost their last six- a run which has seen them score only one goal. Borough don’t have a good recent record against Potters Bar, taking only two points from their last six encounters.

Whitehawk are having a positive end to the season, with only two defeats from their last ten and having won their last three matches. The Hawks welcome already relegated Kingstonian, the K’s having lost eight of their last nine and each of their last five. The sides have already met three times this season, and they haven’t been positive matches for the K’s, who have lost four-nil in the FA Trophy, on penalties in the Velocity Cup after a two-two draw, and four-one in the league last month. Kingstonian have conceded ninety four goals from their thirty nine league matches so far this season.

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Where next?

An important night at both ends Raynes Park Vale and Westfield fight for a play off spot, whilst at the other end, Binfield could close to within a point of third bottom Chipstead
A Blue Day for Becks Beckenham Town keeper Nick Blue announces his retirement- and will play his last home match on Saturday

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