Isthmian Supporters predictions- how well did you do? North Division

One thing is certain, nobody predicted that the 2019-20 season would end as it did. Nor could anyone predict that we’d lose quite so many matches due to foul weather. But back in July last year we did ask you to let us have your thoughts on who would do best- and worst- in the forthcoming campaign, so we thought it would be a shame not to see how you did measured against the final standings we ended up with.

Of course, many clubs will argue that their finishing position was false- and with good reason- so this is anything but a scientific study. But it might be fun nonetheless.

So, first things first. You had three of the top five right, and five of the top six. Although, as Eric Morecambe almost said (if you’re rather young you might have to ask a parent to explain this reference), you had almost all of the right teams, just not necessarily in the right order! Coggeshall Town, who were your winners, were nineteen points off top spot when the campaign ended, but then even second place Aveley were fourteen points behind, such was the success of Maldon & Tiptree, who you had placed fourth.

You were spot on with your finishing position for Aveley, and only one place out for Heybridge Swifts and Bury Town. But you were spectacularly wrong about your hopes for Grays Athletic, who ended up nine places lower, and you didn’t foresee the rise of Tilbury, who were eight places higher than you expected. Great Wakering Rovers also did much better than you thought they would.

Overall, however, you did rather well. As well as your success with the top five, you weren’t too far out at the wrong end of the table. Only Felixstowe and Walton United did far worse than you expected, whilst Witham Town did slightly better, as did Soham Town Rangers, but otherwise you were one to four places out. That said, Aveley were the only side you placed in exactly the right position!

We’ll leave you to do the comparing and contrasting by reproducing your predicted table and the actual table. We’ll do this all again next season- whenever that might be- and we’ll be back with a look at your South Central predictions next.