Is this the weekend when the Tags take the title?

Hashtag United look to be champions in all but name. Six points clear with two matches to go, and with a better goal difference than rivals AFC Sudbury, it would take two defeats for the Tags and two Yellow wins for the outcome to change- and whilst the latter may be likely, the former isn’t! United are at home, and welcome Great Wakering Rovers, their visitors also desperate for points as they try to avoid automatic relegation and grab themselves a relegation play off place. A chance at the end of season lottery is the best that Rovers can hope for, but they’ll probably have to play out of their skins to take anything at the Len Salmon. The last time the sides met, on December 3rd, the Tags won three-nil.

Image from Lucy Copsey.

AFC Sudbury are already guaranteed second place, but our long time leaders will undoubtedly push for the title until it becomes mathematically impossible for them to win it. They welcome Brentwood Town to the MEL Group Stadium, having gone five matches without conceding a goal. The travelling Blues are five unbeaten, and indeed have lost only one of their last ten, but the best they can hope for is an eighth place finish.

Lowestoft Town travel to take on the side who are their closest challengers for a home play off Semi-Final place, Heybridge Swifts. The Trawler Boys are four points ahead of their hosts, whilst Swifts are in even greater need of three points, as fifth place Grays Athletic are only two points behind and sixth place felixstowe & Walton United only a point further back, the Seasiders with a marginally better goal difference and a game in hand. The two sides drew one-one in December.

Fifth place Grays Athletic travel to take on Bury Town, who are much improved of late and took a point at Lowestoft Town in midweek. Town have only one defeat from six, whilst Athletic have won their last two and will be aware of Felixstowe breathing down their necks.

The Seasiders are on the road to relegation-threatened Within Town. Three points away from the top five after Thursday night’s win over Stowmarket town, Felixstowe can’t afford to drop points at this stage- particularly as they have to hosts fellow play off hopefuls Heybridge Swifts on the final day. Witham, five points ahead of Tilbury in the race to avoid the drop, know that three points will guarantee their survival, and that- at worst- they need to avoid defeat.

Stowmarket Town have had a terrible April, losing every match so far, and if they are to retain any chance of finishing in the top five will need to win at New Salamis. Their hosts may be one place and nine points further back but they actually have fewer defeats this season than their visitors, and will be looking for that to continue.

East Thurrock United and Basildon United, both safe, meet at Rookery Hill, whilst Gorleston, who secured their safety in midweek, will hope to defeat Maldon & Tiptree and in so doing climb above the Jammers in the table.

Fourth bottom Tilbury know that they have to win both of their matches and hope Witham Town slip up if they are to escape the bottom four. The Dockers face a tough task on the road to Wroxham; although the Yachtsmen did fall to a home defeat against Gorleston in midweek. Tilbury have only lost two of their last six, and drew with the Yachtsmen at Chadfields in December. This time, however, a draw won’t do.

The best that Coggeshall Town can hope for is a relegation play off place, but to ensure they get one they may have to relegate their hosts, bottom side Hullbridge Sports. A relegation play off place already looks beyond Sports, given the gap between themselves and the Seed Growers is six points, but they do have three matches left and if they can win them all could possibly achieve what looks impossible.

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