Can Woods extend their lead to double figures?

Our leaders, Northwood, start the day seven points clear at the top and will have hopes of making that double figures by full time! Thatcham Town stand between Woods and more success. The hosts went out of the Velocity Trophy in midweek, but there has been a gulf between their league performances and cup showings, so we suspect a much more positive showing today. The Kingfishers have only one win this season- a five-one crushing of Bedfont Sports on October 1st- and otherwise have flattered to deceive.

Second place Marlow will hope to defeat Bedfont Sports and perhaps close the gap to the top. Marlow have lost only two league matches this season but haven’t yet hit top form, whilst Sports have had a nightmare start by their standards, with only one league win. They last won a game more than a month ago, and have only won two all season, the other a penalty shootout victory in the FA Trophy.

Binfield and Walton & Hersham both have games in hand over the leaders- three for the Moles, four for the Swans- and the two sides meet today in what looks like our match of the day. The Moles lost their only league match so far this season last weekend, falling to defeat at South Park Reigate, whilst the Swans haven’t lost a league match since the opening day- but such has been their cup prowess that they’ve played as many as four games fewer than the sides around them. The Moles are unbeaten at home in all competitions, which perhaps makes them slight favourites- but the Swans have regularly looked superb and will undoubtedly dispute that.

South Park Reigate, up to fourth after that win against the Moles, are on the road to Woking to face Westfield. The Sparks have taken ten points from their last twelve and will be full of confidence, whilst Field ended a poor run with victory over Tooting & Mitcham United last weekend and will hope to continue to climb the table. The Sparks took four points from their encounters last season- but both matches were close.

There are only three points between second and ninth, which means that both fifth place Ashford Town and sixth place Chertsey Town will both have their eyes on second spot. The two meet in Curfew land, Chertsey hoping to bounce back from defeats in Velocity Cup and League last week whilst the Tangerines have won their last three league matches- but did also depart the Velocity Cup in midweek. The Curfews took six points from six from the Tangerines last season, perhaps revenge may be on the visitors minds.

Basingstoke Town, in eighth, are on the road to take on eleventh place Uxbridge. The hosts are three points behind Stoke, but do have two games in hand, and have won four of their last five in all competitions- their best run of the campaign so far. Stoke, conversely, have lost their last two in league and Velocity Cup, but those two defeats did come against Northwood and Binfield.

Southall welcome Hanworth Villa. The hosts are our draw specialists, drawing half of their matches so far- if just one of those draws had been a win they’d be firmly in the top five. They’ve taken five points (two draws) from their last nine in the league, and also knocked Westfield out of the Velocity Trophy during that run. The Villains are five points behind their hosts albeit with three games in hand. They haven’t won a league game in over a month, but that’s not as bad as it sounds as they’ve only played one in that period.

Chipstead will try to follow up a fine win at Leatherhead last time out by winning another ‘green derby’ as Guernsey come to call. If the Chips could find some consistency they’d undoubtedly be further up the table- they’ve had some fine moments this season, but not enough of them- whilst the visiting Green Lions have been short of fine moments, having won only once this season.

Sutton Common Rovers play host to Tooting & Mitcham United at Whyteleafe. Rovers will be buoyed by winning twice over the last week, against Thatcham Town in the League and Three Bridges in the Velocity Trophy- whilst the Terrors have gone seven matches in all competitions without winning a single one, and will be desperate to get back to winning ways, particularly as only goal difference keeps them out of the bottom four.

Finally, Merstham plays host to the Hayden Bird derby, as their former manager brings his Leatherhead team to Moatside. The Moatsiders are still without a league win, whilst the Tanners only have one, and the start of the Bird era last weekend saw them give up a two goal lead to lose to Chipstead last weekend. They did bounce back to win a Velocity Cup match on penalties in midweek, however.

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