Can the Urchins move to within five points of the title?

If second place Chatham Town win each of their remaining six matches, they can reach eighty nine points. On that basis, leaders and title-favourites Hornchurch, who already have eighty two, can move to within five points of the title if they can defeat bottom side Concord Rangers at Bridge Avenue this evening (although given their far superior goal difference we suspect that eighty nine points would do!).

The Urchins have lost only twice all season, whilst the visiting Beachboys have won only five matches in total and start the day fifteen points from safety- albeit with three games in hand- and have lost seven their last seven. That would suggest that a home win is an absolute certainty, but these top v bottom matches have a habit of throwing up shocks so we suspect there will be no complacency from the hosts.

When the sides met in February, a Femi Akinwande hat trick gave the Urchins a comfortable three-nil win.

Third place Enfield Town are beginning to look secure in a play off spot, and they head to Whitehawk hoping to increase the margin between themselves and sixth place- a gap which currently stands at six points. The Towners take an eight match unbeaten run to the Sussex coast- the same length as the Hawks unbeaten run was before they were walloped by Hornchurch on Saturday. If Whitehawk manage to quickly put that trouncing behind them (and lets be fair, the Urchins have defeated almost everyone this season) then this one might be tight. It might also be packed with goals, as the last time the two sides met, in November, it ended four-four, the Hawks scoring twice in the last five minutes to take a point.

There is a scheduled pitch inspection at half past one- although Sussex has been unusually and surprisingly dry over the last few days, so we’re hopeful!

Fourth place Horsham will have their sights on third place, but they have a tough Sussex derby at Lewes this evening. It isn’t long ago since the Hornets were in mid table with a large number of games in hand, so their rise up the table has been rather impressive, but they aren’t entirely consistent, as a run of six wins and three defeats from their last nine demonstrates. They may need to be at their best at the Dripping Pan, as the Rooks, who are eight points away from the top five, can’t afford to drop to many points if they are to keep their promotion aspirations alive. Lewes will be looking to do the double over their opponents, after a three-one win at the Camping World Community Stadium last month.

Wingate and Finchley will still be buzzing after their added time win at Billericay at the weekend, and it was anything but a flash in the pan, as the Blues have had a super season and are deservedly a fixture in the top five. With a four point lead over the chasing pack, our fifth place side will be happy but not complacent as they finally get to travel to tenth place Bognor Regis Town, to play a match that has been postponed so often that we’re starting to believe that Nyewood Lane has developed its own weather system. The Rocks haven’t given up on their own promotion aspirations, but the gap between the two sides is now eight points, and with only one win in seven time looks to be running out for the hosts.

Over the last ten years and sixteen meetings, the Blues have won only four- and none of those victories came at the seaside. How they’d like to change that tonight- and get revenge for a one-nil Bognor win in North London only ten days ago.

Dulwich Hamlet have closed to within four points of the top five, but the side in pink and blue have a tricky task tonight as they travel to take on Potters Bar Town. The Scholars have been exhibiting what looks very much like play off form, and although they sit eleven points from that particular promised land- albeit with two games in hand- the only two sides with better form over the last ten matches are champions-elect Hornchurch and…Dulwich Hamlet. Town are five unbeaten and have won their last four, putting six goals past Kingstonian at the weekend, whilst Hamlet have only one defeat from six, that reverse coming against…Kingstonian.

The first match between the sides this season ended with a two-two draw.

Finally, we’ve a relegation battle. This is the kind of match that is often labelled a six-pointer, but given the gap that Cheshunt have opened up on their opponents that label would be rather superfluous. The Ambers are ten points clear of the fourth bottom Blues following a run of four wins in five, whilst Gate have won one- and lost eight- of their last ten, and, despite taking a fine point from Enfield Town on Saturday whilst playing nearly all of the match with ten men, look to need something of a miracle. The visiting fans will be praying for just that.

The sides met at Hartsdown Park as long ago as August, and both are much-changed since then. The Ambers triumphed two-one, with goals from Bobby Unwin (most recently seen at Grays Athletic) and James Meehan.

Image of Bridge Avenue from Ian Mulcahy.

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