It's all to play for at both ends of the table!

By Ian Townsend

We've a South Central battle for the title, a battle for the playoffs featuring perhaps eleven sides, and a battle against relegation. Here's our preview of an action-packed (weather permitting) Saturday.

Our leaders Ware are three points clear and eight games unbeaten, but they will also be more than aware that second place Hanwell Town are breathing down their necks and have two games in hand. The boys in Blue can’t afford to slip up at Hertford Town this weekend, but will also be mindful that last time out Town became the first side to defeat Chipstead since the end of November, and will be no pushovers. The sides have already met twice this season, the league match at Wodson Park ending in a three-three draw and a Velocity Trophy tie at the same venue ending three-one to the hosts, so there will be no secrets- but perhaps we shouldn’t rule out a surprise.

The Geordies are at home once more, and face Tooting and Mitcham United. The Terrors have only one point from their last five matches and really need to start winning if their chances of the playoffs aren’t going to evaporate. They are five points off the top five, but they do have a game in hand over everyone currently in a playoff place. Hanwell have been in fine form of late, with four consecutive victories, six matches unbeaten, and fifteen goals in their last four- including six against Waltham Abbey last time out. They’ve already had a successful week, winning Manager of the Month and Performance of the Month for February, and will hope those prizes don’t come with a curse attached!

By the way, that's Hanwell 's irrigation system in the headline image. We suspect they won't need it this weekend.

Third place Westfield have slipped to six points behind the Geordies and nine behind Ware- although, like Town, have two games in hand over the top side. They host our match of the day as fourth place Chertsey Town arrive in Woking Park. The Curfews are eight games unbeaten and have won six of them, and have been scoring goals for fun, twice getting six and twice four during that run. Field have steadied the ship after a blip and are unbeaten in four, with two wins and two draws. When the two last met it ended all square, two-all.

Uxbridge, in fifth, have a Piccadilly Line derby as they travel to Bedfont Sports. The visitors have lost only one of their last nine, but Sports are also in good form, and come into the match four games unbeaten. Uxbridge, however, have won more matches on the road than any other side in the Division.

Bracknell Town are our form side. Unbeaten since early December and with eight wins and two draws from their last ten, the Robins scored seven goals in defeating Staines Town last weekend, and will perhaps be looking forward to the visit of Harlow Town, who have lost their last four matches- and seven of their last ten. Can the Hawks halt their slide? Find out at Larges Lane. Bracknell could climb into the top five with victory.

It’s difficult to know what to make of Waltham Abbey, who conceded six goals last time out, just a week after they scored seven of their own. The Abbotts, who have slipped to seventh, travel to face FC Romania, the Wolves third from bottom and three points clear of the drop zone- but who got an impressive draw with high-flying Chertsey last time out.

Marlow host Chipstead. The Chips lost an unbeaten run that stretched back three months with defeat at Hertford last time out, and will hope to quickly recapture that form, whilst Marlow have only lost one of their last nine matches and will, as always, be incredibly difficult to beat.

Barking, who start the day in tenth place, six points off the playoffs, host South Park at Mayesbury Park. The Blues have developed an inconsistency of late, their last six matches ending lost-won-lost-won-lost-won, but they will hope to buck that trend against a Sparks side who have lost their last five games.

Chalfont St Peter host Staines Town. Only six places separate the sides, but if that gap is measured in points it comes to twenty one, the rock-bottom Swans without a win since November 19th. There have been a number of changes to the Staines squad since they last met on 16th November, a match which gave the Swans their best moment of the season and a six-one win. Neither side have been in good form of late, but the Saints did win their last match, defeating Harlow Town by a single goal.

Nineteenth hosts seventeenth as Northwood welcome Ashford Town. Both sides have shown improvement of late, the Tangerines winning two, drawing two and losing two of their last six whilst the Woods moved off the bottom with a victory over Marlow; although they then followed that with a one-nil defeat to the same side. Northwood are three points ahead of last place Staines Town, the Tangerines one point better off.

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Where next?

A pair of Sparks Two new arrivals at South Park
Are the Jammers home and dry? Or can one of the chasing pack still make a fight of the title? Yes, dry might not be the right word to use at the moment- but here’s a hopeful preview of Saturday’s North Division fixtures. If you’ve any influence with the weather gods, please get them to make it stop!

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