It’s bottom v top and second v fifth. Will we have a weekend of surprises in the South Central?

By Ian Townsend

We have some rather intriguing fixtures scheduled for this weekend in the South Central Division. Could Northwood spring a surprise? Could Bracknell break into the top five? Might it even be dry? Here’s our preview.

Ware have opened up a two point gap at the top of the South Central Division, but have no time to relax as second place Hanwell Town have a game in hand and a better goal difference. The Blues should feel confident as they travel to face Northwood, who have lost their last nine matches- but the Woods have strengthened this week and have a squad of players better than the league table suggests. Ware are in good form, without a defeat in six and with sixteen points out of their last eighteen, so look too strong for their hosts on paper- but as the old cliché suggests, football isn’t played on paper. Although perhaps if it was played on blotting paper or the kitchen towels advertised by the bloke in the sombrero we might get to see more of it…

Second place Hanwell Town- pictured on a rare sunny day- are five matches unbeaten, taking thirteen points from that run. They are at home to fifth place Waltham Abbey, the Abbotts eight points behind their hosts but confident after putting seven goals past Chalfont St Peter last time out. The Geordies won the previous match between the two by two goals to nil, but needed two spot kicks to do it.

Westfield, in third, seem to have put their blip behind them, three successive defeats being followed by a draw and a victory. Field host Harlow Town, who have won only two of their last ten and who have played two of the other promotion contenders in their last two matches, losing to both Ware and Uxbridge. We hope that Woking Park has dried out.

Chertsey Town, who have been in superb form of late, travel to FC Romania, who haven’t. The Wolves have lost eight of their last ten and are two points off the bottom, whilst the Curfews have lost one during the same period, and have won their last five games scoring twenty two goals in the process. Another win for Chertsey could take them third.

Uxbridge, who start the day in sixth, travel to face Chalfont St Peter. The Saints have taken only four points- and no victories- from their last ten matches, and haven’t won since Boxing Day, so will be desperate to put their New Year Blues behind them. Uxbridge, in contrast, have lost only two of their last ten, but dropped out of the top five after a run of four games without a win in the middle of that section. They got back to winning ways against Harlow last time out, but this will be their first match since February 8th.

Bracknell Town have been in superb form, the Robins having soared upwards like a far more majestic bird with a much larger wingspan. Nine matches unbeaten, and with seven victories in that run including the last four, they host Staines Town, who have sunk to second bottom after a run that has seen them pick up only three points from their last thirty nine. The Swans were last victorious when they recorded a two-nil win over Tooting and Mitcham United on November 19th, and come into this match on the back of five consecutive defeats. They have the same number of points as bottom side Northwood, who have two games in hand.

Tooting and Mitcham United have struggled a little of late, slipping to eighth after losing their last three matches. They travel to Barking, another side who have the ability to be very good indeed but who are maddeningly inconsistent. The Blues last five matches have seen defeat-victory-defeat-victory-defeat, so they’d undoubtedly like that pattern to continue for one more game.

Our form side at present are Chipstead. The Chips have delivered some scintillating displays in closing to within five points of the top five, taking twenty six points from their last thirty and remaining unbeaten since the end of November. They travel to face a Hertford Town side without a win in five matches, but who have shown improving form with two draws and a narrow defeat from their last three.

Bedfont Sports face Ashford Town in a battle of Heathrow. Sports will be full of confidence after winning their last three matches, whilst the Tangerines have also shown much improved form of late, their only defeats in their last five coming against promotion contenders Ware and Chertsey Town.

Finally, Marlow host South Park. Only Tooting and Mitcham United have conceded fewer goals than Marlow this season, but only the bottom four have scored fewer, which explains why Marlow sit in twelfth place- although they do have two, three or four matches in hand over many of the sides above them. The Sparks have lost their last four matches and have been badly afflicted by injury and unavailability, which has seen them slip to fifteenth.

Follow the BetVictor Isthmian League on Facebook and Twitter to ensure you're always up to date with the latest news.

Where next?

Tanners sign Sheringham the younger Leatherhead move for striker Charlie
Can any of the challengers stop Maldon? Who will end up in that relegation playoff? And will our pitches ever dry out? So many questions, and hopefully a full programme of North Division action to help us get nearer to the answers. We did say hopefully! Here’s our preview.

The Pitching In Isthmian Football League newsletter

Keep up-to-date with our exclusive email newsletters.

Subscribe