First v second- but we’ve big games everywhere!

First v second- but we’ve big games everywhere!

Lowestoft v Felixstowe will take the headlines, but there are crucial points to be won across the North Division. Here’s our preview.

Leaders Lowestoft Town head to second place Felixstowe and Walton United with a five point lead at the top. The Trawler Boys have looked a little vulnerable of late, losing two of their last four, but luckily for them their closest challengers have also been dropping points, so the Seasiders will be desperate to win this one. This is their first meeting of the campaign, but the Trawler Boys did the double over United last season.

If that’s our big game, the next one isn’t far behind. Bury Town have been superb of late, seven games undefeated and winning six of them- including the last four- and they take on Bowers and Pitsea, who are in third place and also in fine form, winning seven of their last eight. A Bowers win could take them second, a Town win could lift them into the top five if other results go their way.

Fourth place Basildon United could climb as high as second if they can overcome visitors Ipswich Wanderers. The Bees have had their mini slump and come out of the other side, winning their last three, whilst Wanderers are struggling badly, losing their last eight.

Heybridge Swifts start the weekend in fifth place, and they hit the road to take on Grays Athletic in Tilbury. Swifts are eight games unbeaten, whilst Athletic have lost their last three and sit second from bottom, albeit eight points clear of last place Stowmarket Town. Swifts have taken only one point from the last four meetings between the clubs, but they’ll be favourites this time around.

We’ve another big match as seventh place Brentwood Town travel to face the side one place and one point above them, Maldon & Tiptree. Both sides have the chance of reaching the top five this weekend should Swifts slip up, and both are in good form, the Jammers having won four of their last five, Town with only one defeat in ten. The Blues won both meetings last season.

Brightlingsea Regent have slipped to ninth place after losing their last three matches. They are back at the Taydal, and they welcome East Londoners Walthamstow, who have two wins and four defeats from their last six- a run which sees them one place and six points behind their hosts.

Wroxham welcome Redbridge to the Norfolk Broads, as fourteenth takes on fifteenth. Neither side are in good form, the Yachtsmen having gone five without a win, the Motormen with one win and five defeats from their last six. Both teams will be focused on ending those runs with three valuable points.

Finally, bottom side Stowmarket Town welcome New Salamis. Stow have looked much improved of late, but points- and a first win- continue to elude them, and they find themselves eight points from safety. Their visitors are six places and fifteen points better off, but have struggled with consistency of late with two wins and two defeats from their last four. New Salamis took four points from Stow last season.

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