It’s all about the place

The final Saturday of the regular Pitching In Isthmian North season doesn’t come with a great deal to decide. We already know the champions- congrats to Lowestoft Town, who will get their trophy after their match with Brentwood Town- and we already know that Stowmarket Town are relegated, the only club to go down due to the sad demise of East Thurrock United. And we already know that Bowers & Pitsea, Bury Town, Felixstowe and Walton United and Brentwood Town will contest the play offs- but we’ve no idea who will face who.

Second place Bowers have a two point advantage over Bury and Felixstowe, but a significantly poorer goal difference than both clubs, so may need to win at Wroxham to guarantee second place. Bowers could have secured second place last weekend, but surprisingly they squandered a two goal lead to lose to Walthamstow- ending a run of nine consecutive wins and adding some jeopardy to the final weekend. Bowers have actually lost fewer matches on the road than on their own patch, so perhaps won’t worry too much about home advantage were they to fail to get it, but they’ll undoubtedly want to end the campaign with a win. The hosting Yachtsmen are secure in mid table and are in reasonable form, having lost only two of their last eight.

Bury Town are on the road to in-form Redbridge. The Blues have lost only one of their last twenty four matches so will be confident of adding another three points, but the Motormen have won five of their last six and taken the Essex Senior Cup, so aren’t likely to roll over. A win for Town could take them second if Bowers fail to win, but anything less could see them drop to fourth of even fifth, and lose home advantage- and with only two defeats at Ram Meadow all season, home advantage could be rather important. Victory for the Motormen could see them climb into the top ten.

Felixstowe and Walton United have spent most of this year vying for top spot with Lowestoft Town, so it must be rather galling that they find themselves in fourth place after a run of one win from five. They’ll want to get back to winning ways before next week’s play offs, and victory gives them a chance of taking home advantage- but that will depend on what happens to the two sides ahead of them. The Seasiders welcome New Salamis, who are in fifteenth and have been rather inconsistent of late, two wins and three defeats from their last seven- but who did come close to defeating the Seasiders in North London in December, only a late goal rescuing a point for United.

Forth place Brentwood Town may need Lowestoft Town to already be in party mode as they travel to the seaside. The Trawler Boys are five unbeaten- four wins- and already confirmed as champions, whilst the travelling Blues know that they could yet finish third, fourth of fifth- but for the first two of those they’ll need to take three points. The sides met in early February at the Brentwood Arena, and a last-gasp goal from Harvey Sayer ensured that a goalless draw turned into a Lowestoft victory.

Brightlingsea Regent host Gorleston, Regent in superb form with only one defeat- and eight wins- from their last ten, whilst the Greens are looking forward to a second Norfolk Senior Cup Final in a row, and hoping to retain the trophy with victory over Downham Town. A Gorleston win could lift them into the top ten.

Basildon United and Heybridge Swifts meet at the TLM Environmental Stadium, the two sides having drawn one-one earlier in the season, whilst Maldon & Tiptree might need a win to hold onto a top ten spot as they welcome Witham Town. Grays Athletic welcome everyone to their community day as they take on Ipswich Wanderers, Athletic having lost four of their last five; whilst our bottom two clash at Bishop’s Stortford, as Enfield, who have lost nine of their last ten, welcome Stowmarket Town, who are still without a win all season.

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