Can the Magpies continue to soar?

Our North Division leaders, Dereham Town, face a difficult trip to Sufolk as they face Bury Town. A cursory glance at the table would show that the hosts are in sixteenth place, but that shows almost none of the story of their season, as they have only completed one league match and have a one hundred percent record across all competitions, with four wins and only two goals conceded- and had their match with Witham Town not been abandoned with only a few minutes on the clock that would have been a fifth win as they were five goals up at the time.

The Magpies have been in decent form- you don’t get to be top of the league on luck alone- but they have played two more matches than almost everyone else in the division. A win tomorrow would really demonstrate that they have promotion credentials.

Histon, in second place, host a wounded Aveley at Bridge Road. The Millers had won five consecutive matches in all competitions before Brentwood Town came to call on Monday night and left with all three points, and they’ll undoubtedly want to get back to winning ways as quickly as possible. Histon won’t be easy to defeat, however- indeed only Soham Town Rangers have managed to do that- and they don’t concede many goals, so expect this one to be a tight affair. That comment probably means it will end up six-all!

Third place Hullbridge Sports will be smarting after their five-nil walloping at Heybridge Swifts in midweek, but they’ll need to quickly stop licking their wounds and get back to business as fourth place Tilbury won’t arrive feeling charitable. The Dockers lost narrowly at home to Grays Athletic in midweek, and will want to put that behind them.

Grays are at home this time out, and welcome Romford, who haven’t started the season the way we might have expected, losing three of their five matches and departing the FA Cup at the first hurdle. Boro fans must be worried by their lack of goals- only three in their six competitive matches so far; whilst Athletic fans will be far more positive as their side start the day in sixth place, their only defeat in open play this season coming at the hands of Canvey Island a fortnight ago.

Two unbeaten sides meet at Park Drive, as Maldon and Tiptree entertain Felixstowe and Walton United. Both have drawn two of their opening three matches, with the Seasiders only defeat since the start of the campaign coming on penalties against Hashtag United in the FA Cup. The Jammers can boast an even better record, as they remain in the FA Cup, but might be slightly concerned by their shortage of league goals, as they are averaging one per match so far. That said, perhaps that’s only a concern when you compare it to last season!

Two of our promotion favourites, Canvey Island and Brentwood Town, battle it out at the Brentwood Arena. The hosts wil be flying high after that win over Aveley, whilst the Gulls were unbeaten in all competitions until they were narrowly bested by the Jammers in midweek.

Coggeshall Town host Cambridge City at West Street. The Seed Growers will be dangerous, with striker Nnamdi Nwachuku already on five goals for the season, whilst City have hit form, disposing of Premier Division Cheshunt in the Cup and Soham Town Rangers over the last week.

Great Wakering Rovers, walloped six-nil at home by Basildon United in midweek, are on the road to Witham Town, who picked up their first win of the season at Romford on Wednesday night. That six goal thrashing is rather inexplicable given it came on the back of a three-nil win over Romford, whilst Town also defeated Romford to record their first win of the season.

Basildon will hope to build on that remarkable victory as they host AFC Sudbury, who have lost four in a row in all competitions but have strengthened their defence with a loan signing from Colchester United this week.

Finally, Soham Town Rangers host a resurgent Heybridge Swifts. Swifts will be full of beans after winning for the first time this season in midweek- and in some style- whilst Rangers had been in reasonable form until suffering that defeat at Cambridge City.