Get set for the weekend!

On Tuesday night Folkestone Invicta replaced Horsham at the top of the Premier Division table with a point against Kingstonian, but the Hornets have the chance to regain their place at the summit as they travel to the BuildKent Stadium on Saturday.

After taking thirteen points from their previous fifteen, Horsham fell to a heavy home defeat last weekend as Margate came to call, scored three goals and took three points. But the Hornets away record is better than their form at their own Camping World Community Stadium, with Dom Di Paola’s side winning seven of their nine matches on their travels and losing only once. Only Bishop’s Stortford and Bognor Regis Town have taken any points from the Hornets away from home this season.

Luckily for Invicta fans, their best form has been at the BuildKent Stadium- although they’ve been remarkably consistent on their travels, too. Only Horsham’s Sussex rivals Bognor Regis Town have travelled to the Kent coast and left with three points this season.

Worthing, in third place, host the Hornets conquerors, Margate. Prior to that win at Horsham Gate had been consistently inconsistent, so their supporters will be hoping that last weekend’s victory was the start of a run that will propel them into promotion contention. The Mackerel Men are unbeaten in nine matches in the league, and indeed have lost only one of their last twelve in all competitions. Victory could see them climb into second place.

Hornchurch, in fourth place, travel to Wingate and Finchley. The Urchins are unbeaten in five, but that doesn’t tell the whole story as four of those matches have ended in a draw, and they have slipped six points behind the leaders- albeit with a game in hand. Their visitors have improved of late but are still struggling to turn that improvement into points, and indeed have only six of those from their last thirty and have drawn only one of their last four. They’ve been on a run of matches against in-form opponents, three of their last four defeats coming against Carshalton Athletic, Worthing and Cray Wanderers- but they did take a point from Enfield Town last weekend.

The Towners only have one win- and three draws- from their last six, and will be hoping to get another three points on the board as they host Bowers & Pitsea. Their visitors travelled to Potters Bar Town last weekend and picked up three points, so will be looking for successive wins on the road for the first time this campaign.

We have a mouth-watering clash in prospect at Colston Avenue, as Carshalton Athletic host Bognor Regis Town. The visiting Rocks are our form side at present, with only one defeat from their last ten, but the Robins have the same number of defeats, the only difference being that they have five draws during the same period. The hosts have won four of their last five, however, and could climb as high as third with victory.

Cray Wanderers were brought down to earth with a bump last weekend, a seven match unbeaten run coming to an end with a thrashing at Carshalton. They’ll hope to get back to winning ways as Potters Bar Town arrive at Hayes Lane- but the Scholars will be in confident mood after they scored four against Brightlingsea Regent in midweek.

It’ll be an emotional day for all at Rookery Hill, where East Thurrock United host Haringey Borough. The Rocks today announced the sad passing of owner Ben Bennett, the man who has guided them from near extinction two decades ago to unprecedented success. Our love goes out to all of Ben’s family and friends, and to all at the club.

The Rocks will look to get back to winning ways after falling to late defeat at Bishop’s Stortford in midweek, whilst Borough have drawn their last two and will be also hoping for three points- but in truth, some things are much more important than football, and the loss of Ben will cast a large shadow over the on-field events.

Fresh from that victory in midweek, Bishop’s Stortford seem to have turned around a period of poor form and travel to Cheshunt, a side also on the up after a victory and a draw in their last two matches. Kingstonian, who yesterday were named as winners of each of our three monthly awards for Premier Division clubs, have only two defeats from their last ten league matches but are playing catch-up due to their cup heroics. The K’s host Merstham, a side who can’t pick up a win no matter what they do, and have only one point from their last thirty. That point came last weekend against Bishop’s Stortford, so the Moatsiders will be looking to build on that as they travel to King George’s Field for a Surrey derby.

Sixteenth plays fourteenth as the Rooks of Lewes take on the Tanners of Leatherhead. The Tanners suffered a crushing three-nil defeat in their last league match at East Thurrock United, but have been otherwise magnificent of late- they had five consecutive victories up until that point. When the two sides met at the end of August at Fetcham Grove, Lewes inflicted a four-one defeat on their hosts, so the green hordes will travel to East Sussex with revenge on their minds. The Rooks have hit a good run, holding league leaders Folkestone Invicta to a draw last time out after defeating Bishop’s Stortford.

Finally, our bottom two meet at the Taydal. Brightlingsea Regent, who have only two points from their last thirty, take on Corinthian-Casuals, who have five from the same period. A win for Casuals will lift them off the bottom at the expense of their hosts, but if Regent can finally find three points they could even climb out of the bottom three.

Into the North Division, and the top end of the table is so tightly packed that any of six sides could be at the summit by 5PM on Saturday. Leaders Bury Town, who have twenty seven points, travel to eighth placed Histon, whilst second place Heybridge Swifts, also on twenty seven points, welcome back old favourite Sam Bantick and his new club Canvey Island.

Third placed Coggeshall Town, on twenty six points, travel to face Grays Athletic, in fifth place on twenty five. The Seed Growers may also face their former skipper, Dexter Peter, who signed for Athletic earlier this week.

Maldon & Tiptree are in fourth place with twenty five points, but they have three matches in hand over Bury Town, five over the other three sides in the top five. Now that their cup adventures have come to an end the Jammers will be able to concentrate on the league, which won’t be much comfort to the rest of the league if they continue with their recent form. They travel to face sixteenth placed Hullbridge Sports.

The side in sixth place, Aveley, haven’t lost a league match since October 19th- but then they haven’t really played very many as they’ve been sweeping all before them in the FA Trophy, knocking out three higher level sides and scoring goals for fun. The Millers head to Great Wakering Rovers, and start the day on twenty four points- but have a better goal difference than everyone above them except Maldon.

Dereham Town are another side who can’t stop scoring of late, and their manager Adam Gusterson picked up our manager of the month prize yesterday. The Magpies, a point behind Aveley in seventh, are undefeated in seven and have won their last four, whilst their visitors, Tilbury, are also in good form with only one defeat in seven.

AFC Sudbury are three games unbeaten and entertain Cambridge City, who have lost their last two but won the two prior to that; whilst bottom side Romford, who are still looking for their first victory under owner/manager Glenn Tamplin, travel to Felixstowe and Walton United, the hosts smarting after turning a two-nil lead into a three-two defeat when Dereham Town visited last weekend.

Basildon United, three matches unbeaten in the league, entertain a Witham Town side who have picked up of late with four points from their last six; whilst Brentwood Town, with only two points from their last fifteen, host a Soham Town Rangers side who only have one point from the same period.

South Central

Our leaders Hanwell Town have gone badly off the boil of late, picking up only three points from their last twelve- and perhaps their visitors on Saturday can take advantage. Barking have won their last five matches, form which yesterday saw manager Justin Gardner pick up our manager of the month prize.

If the Geordies do slip up then second placed Ware are handily placed to take advantage. Three points behind, the Blues have scored six goals in each of their last two matches, and entertain an Ashford Town side who have improved of late but still have only two wins from ten. Mind you, one of those wins was against Hanwell Town, so perhaps that should count double?!

Third faces fourth as Uxbridge, two points behind Ware and five from the summit, host Harlow Town. After a good run the Hawks have had their wings clipped of late with only one point from their last nine, whilst the home side have also slowed down, their winning run coming to an end as they’ve picked up five points from twelve.

Fifth hosts sixth as Chertsey Town entertain Tooting & Mitcham United. The Terrors have won only one of their last five league matches- but that’s better than their hosts have managed, taking only two points from the same period.

A five match unbeaten run has taken Waltham Abbey to the edge of the playoff places. Level on points with Tooting, the Abbotts host Staines Town, and improved form for the seventeen placed Swans, with seven points from their last nine, means that the outcome of this one is difficult to predict- particularly given the Abbotts have won four and lost three of their home matches so far,

Eighth placed Westfield host tenth placed Chalfont St Peter. Field have drawn their last four matches two-two, and surely can’t do it again; whilst the Saints won last time out but are still struggling for consistency.

Bracknell Town will look to bounce back after their hammering at home to Ware last weekend as they travel to South Park; the Sparks desperate for points after their great run came to an end with three consecutive defeats, the last coming at the hands of Uxbridge.

Marlow won our Safe Hands award for October, but their problem is at the other end- they don’t score enough goals. They’ll hope to put that right as Hertford Town visit Oak Tree Road; but the visitors have really picked up of late, leaving Ware with a point that was very nearly three before smashing six goals past Northwood.

The Woods, who have been in decent form of late apart from that debacle against Hertford, travel to Bedfont Sports. Woods have three wins from their last four, whilst Sports have gone four games unbeaten. It might be close!

Finally in the South Central, fifteenth placed Chipstead host bottom side FC Romania. The visiting Wolves have only one win from their last ten, whilst the Chips have two. Four points separate the two sides.

South East

We got new leaders in midweek, as Hastings United took over at the summit. The only unbeaten side in the division, United put that record to the test once more as they host Chichester City, the visitors getting back to league action after their FA Cup exploits. When the two sides met in the Velocity Trophy Hastings triumphed by two goals to nil, and a similar result will see the home side remain at least a point clear at the top.

Cray Valley PM, in second place, will hope that they can keep that gap to only one point, or even head back to the summit if Hastings slip up. The Millers host East Grinstead Town, their visitors still without a victory all season. This will be the Wasps first match since they were humiliated twelve-three at Hastings in the Velocity Trophy last week.

Another side who could be at the top of the table at 5PM are Whitehawk. Manager Jude Macdonald picked up our manager of the month award yesterday after his side recorded five consecutive victories, and they host Ramsgate, who drew against Phoenix Sports last time out, ending a run of four consecutive defeats. The Rams don’t have an away win this season.

Fourth placed Ashford United travel to Haywards Heath Town still smarting from a midweek home defeat against Guernsey. Heath have only one defeat from their last six, but they only have one victory, too- and will be hoping to move up the table. They currently sit in fifteenth place, but have as many as three, four or even five matches in hand over the sides around them.

Fifth placed Sevenoaks Town host Sittingbourne. Oaks have hit a sticky patch of late with only one win in five, whilst the Brickies have followed a four match unbeaten run with narrow defeats in their last two.

Whyteleafe, in sixth place, have climbed the table with three consecutive victories and will put that run on the line as they travel to face Faversham Town. The Lilywhites last six matches have followed a strict pattern; won-lost, won-lost, won-lost. Their fans will hope that continues for just one more match!

VCD Athletic, in seventh, entertain Herne Bay hoping for a victory that should propel them back into the top five. Vickers have only won two of their last six- but they’ve only lost one of the rest, so need to start turning draws into victories; whilst Bay have four victories during the same period, and only one defeat. Coincidentally that defeat for both sides came against Sittingbourne.

The Green Lions of Guernsey entertain Hythe Town, and will be full of confidence after only losing two of their last ten. They will be further buoyed by being reminded that their four match unbeaten run has come against four teams from the top five- Hastings United, Cray Valley, Sevenoaks Town and Ashford United. The visiting Cannons have gone seven matches without a win and lost their last two, against Ashford United and Three Bridges, by four goals to one. This match kicks off at 2PM.

Three Bridges, with only two wins from ten matches, host Burgess Hill Town. The Hillians won last time out, but Bridges can perhaps take comfort from the fact that away from the Green Elephants Stadium Hill have picked up only one point all season. Still, Jubilee Field is only twenty five minutes up the A23, so perhaps the visitors should get changed in their usual changing room, drive up the road and pretend it’s a home match?!

Finally, Whitstable Town play host to Phoenix Sports. The Oysterboys lost at home to Hastings in midweek, but they shouldn’t take that to heart given United’s form this season- indeed each of their recent defeats has come against teams who are flying high. Sports have followed a fantastic run with a downturn in fortunes, with only one win from their last five matches.