Hornets, Hawks and Blues go for Trophy glory

FA Trophy

Horsham, superb in the FA Cup this season, are also doing rather well in the FA Trophy, and welcome Pitching In Southern Premier side AFC Totton to the Camping World Community Stadium. The Hornets got back to winning ways in the league against Canvey Island in midweek, and should be confident, particularly given that the only sides to defeat them in knockout competitions this season are Barnsley and Sutton United! Totton have already faced Isthmian opposition this season, the victims of a giantkilling by Ramsgate in the Cup, but they’ve only lost once in nine matches since that defeat and were winners against National League South side Havant & Waterlooville in the last round.

Another Sussex side, Whitehawk, travel to the Kent coast for a Pitching In Isthmian ‘derby’, as they take on Hythe Town. The last time the two sides met was in the South East Play Off Final at the end of last season, the Hawks delivering a narrow triumph, so this is a chance for the Cannons to see whether revenge can be served. The Hawks have proved difficult to defeat this season, but have become rather addicted to draws, with six of their last ten league matches ending level. The Cannons come into this match on the back of three consecutive wins, and defeated National League South side Tonbridge Angels in the last round.

Billericay Town have the tough task of a trip to National League side Wealdstone. The Blues, who knocked out National League North leaders Tamworth in the last round, have lost a little of their consistency of late, and fell to defeat at Wingate & Finchley last weekend, but have been very good in FA Cup, Velocity Cup and Trophy, only a penalty shootout getting the better of them in all three competitions. Wealdstone are very good on their own patch, having lost only once at home- and not at all since the end of August.

Premier

With leaders Hornchurch not in action, second place Chatham Town have the chance to cut the Urchins lead to six points as they welcome Hastings United. With four wins from their last five the Chats look to be returning to their early-season form, whilst United have lost two of their last three. Town have lost only once at home this season. Image from Max English.

Third place Enfield Town aren’t in action, and fourth place Billericay are in the FA Trophy, so Wingate & Finchley have the chance to climb to fourth and go level on points with their North London rivals should they win at Bognor Regis Town. The Blues have been in fine form, winning four of their last five, whilst the hosting Rocks are four unbeaten and will be hoping that they’ve begun to show their best form. Bognor have won only one of their last four meetings with the Blues- a three-nil win at Nyewood Lane last September, goals from Isaac Olaniyan and Nathan Odokonyero (2) doing the damage.

There is a five point gap between fifth place Wingate and the next three sides, but the team in sixth, Hashtag United, head to Potters Bar Town looking to make that number smaller. The Tags have been in fine form, taking ten points from their last four matches, whilst the Scholars might be fourth from bottom but they are playing much better than their position might suggest, with only one defeat from their last ten league matches. Their difficulty has ben an inability to win on their own patch- more than half of the league matches at the Lantern Stadium have ended in a draw.

Canvey Island, perhaps with new striker Sam Higgins in their line up, could climb to sixth if they can get back to winning ways against Folkestone Invicta. The Gulls are having something of a hit and miss season, winning eight and losing eight of their seventeen matches so far, whilst Invicta are six points further back with only one win from their last seven matches- a run which has seen them lose five times. The Gulls won both meetings between the sides last season, scoring three goals each time.

Only one point separates Lewes and Dulwich Hamlet- in favour of the South Londoners, although the Rooks have played four games fewer. With only one win from their last five league matches the Rooks have hit a bit of a bump in the road, whilst Hamlet are nine unbeaten, but have struggled to turn one point into three, drawing six of those nine.

Margate, under new management with the arrival of Mark Stimson, are looking to get their new boss off to a winning start as Carshalton Athletic travel to the seaside. Both sides have seen their form drop off a cliff, each recording only one win from their last ten. The travelling Robins head to Hartsdown Park on the back of a run of five consecutive defeats, whilst the hosts have taken only one solitary point from their last five. Gate haven’t beaten the Robins in eight attempts- although five of those have ended level.

Cheshunt hit Carshalton for four last week, and take a four match unbeaten run- their best of the season- on the road to Canvey, where they face Concord Rangers. The also Beachboys delivered by far their best result of the season last time out, hitting Lewes for four, and know that another three points could move them above Kingstonian into twentieth. The Ambers took four points from Rangers in National League South last season.

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