It’s NOT Non-League Day!

With no top flight football this weekend, it’s a perfect time for you to grab that mate who is always complaining about VAR, overpriced tickets and the amount of money in football, and remind them what the game is meant to be about by taking them to watch one of our clubs. We’re back to league action today with no distractions, so here’s what we’ve got to offer:

In the Premier Division, leaders Horsham, with only one defeat in their last ten matches, travel to Potters Bar Town. The Scholars are no slouches themselves, having only lost two during that period, but they have drawn five of them so the mathematicians amongst you will have worked out why the hosts are in twelfth place. That said, Town do have a number of games in hand due to their cup heroics, and if they were to win them would be comfortably inside the top five, so the Hornets will undoubtedly treat this as a top of the table clash.

If Horsham were to win at the Pakex they could stretch their lead to four points, but that would require Folkestone Invicta to lose at Enfield Town. That certainly wouldn’t be far-fetched, as the only team with a better ten match record that the Towners are the Hornets, Enfield undefeated in nine matches which have brought them seven victories. Enfield might be seven points behind Horsham, but they do have FOUR games in hand- whilst their opponents today, Invicta, know that victory could take them top if Horsham fail to win. Folkestone come into this match following a four-one thumping of East Thurrock United and a draw at Carshalton Athletic, and will be fired up to take their chance of reclaiming top spot.

Third place Hornchurch entertain Corinthian-Casuals. The visitors picked up their first win of the season last weekend, then promptly lost to Leatherhead in midweek- but shouldn’t be too disheartened, everyone does that at the moment. The Urchins followed a draw and a defeat by beating Potters Bar last time out, and look to have got back to form.

Fourth place Cray Wanderers, with only one defeat in their last nine, travel to face a Brightlingsea Regent side who have only a single win during the same period, and that nine games ago.

Worthing, in sixth, fell to a shock home hammering last weekend against AFC Sudbury, and have gone off the boil a little in the league, too, drawing their last three matches. They travel to face a Wingate & Finchley side with a new manager, new strikeforce, and new belief after victory at Lewes last weekend- although they did slip to a narrow defeat against Cray in midweek.

East Thurrock United have the unenviable task of hosting Leatherhead. The Rocks have yet to find consistency, although they had won three of their last four league matches before crashing out of the FA Trophy last weekend at those other Rocks, Bognor Regis Town. The one thing you can be sure about with United is that they are unlikely to draw- they’ve managed that only once this season. The Tanners arrive in Essex on the back of five consecutive league victories, eight in all competitions, and riding the crest of a green wave,

Another side riding the crest of a green wave- and they won’t have quite so far to go to find the sea- are Bognor. That defeat of East Thurrock last weekend was their sixth consecutive win in all competitions, and in midweek they made it seven, travelling to the Kent coast and walloping Margate by six goals to one. Today they entertain Merstham, for whom the story has been exactly the opposite- seven consecutive defeats in all competitions and only one win in eleven.

Haringey Borough’s cup exploits mean that they have played as many as five league matches fewer than some of their rivals, which has seen our former league leaders fall fifteen points off pole position. They’ll look to start closing that gap today as Bishop’s Stortford arrive at Coles Park. Borough have won only one of their last five league matches, whilst the visiting Blues arrive on the back of three consecutive defeats, so somebody needs three points!

Margate, who have been searching for consistency all season and who will be smarting terribly after their trashing against Bognor, travel to face a Bowers and Pitsea side who ended an eight match winless streak in midweek by defeating Bishop’s Stortford; whilst Kingstonian, another side playing catch up because of their ongoing cup and trophy heroics, will host Lewes. The K’s league record shows only three league wins in ten, but if you were to include cup matches the only side to beat them in their last eleven outings was Bognor, who won 1-0. The K’s should be in good form and full of confidence. The Rooks are still struggling for consistency, and followed two consecutive wins with defeat against Wingate and Finchley last time out.

Finally, Cheshunt- who have lost their last six league matches- entertain a Carshalton Athletic side who have drawn their last five- although away from the league have been excellent in both cup and Trophy. Both sides could really do with a win.

North Division

We’d like to start by looking at the table, but we can’t, really. The eyes of the footballing world will be focused on Romford today, as their almost entirely new squad, under the ownership and managership of former Billericay Town owner/manager Glenn Tamplin, take on Coggeshall Town at the Brentwood Arena this afternoon. Admission is free, and who knows what will happen? Check back tomorrow and find out.

Now, back to the normal stuff. Our leaders, Bury Town, with only one defeat all season, travel to face Hullbridge Sports. Sports have lost their last two matches, but had previously been in decent form, so the visitors won’t have it all their own way- but Town will want all three points as they will be aware that Maldon & Tiptree are breathing down their necks.

The Jammers have that rare weekend where they aren’t expected to defeat a higher level side in a cup competition. They’ve played only eight league matches all season, but have won them all, and Histon will be attempting to avoid becoming their latest victims as they travel to Park Drive this afternoon.

Third place Heybridge Swifts defeated the old Romford 5-1 last time out, but lost 5-0 to Aveley in the previous match so who knows what their form is actually like? They host Cambridge City, who are now shorn of Sam Bantick after he made his one hundred and eleventh transfer move in the last three weeks to join Romford. City have won four of their last five so will be no pushovers.

Great Wakering Rovers, in fifth, host Canvey Island, whilst sixth place Grays Athletic head to the seaside to face Felixstowe and Walton United. Athletic have only one win from five, whilst Felixstowe would love a record like that, as they have only one victory from their last ten.

Aveley, who walloped Swifts last time out and strengthened their defence yesterday, welcome Soham Town Rangers to Parkside, the Greens sitting comfortably in mid table, whilst Tilbury- with only one defeat in their last eight- host managerless Basildon United, who have taken only two points during that same period.

AFC Sudbury, buoyed by that FA Cup thumping of Worthing and by victory over Canvey in the league last time out, host a Witham Town side who have lost five of their last six, whilst Dereham Town, undefeated in four and looking to put together a good run, entertain Brentwood Town, whos aw a four match unbeaten run of their own come to an end with a loss against Canvey in midweek.

South Central

We’ve only got two unbeaten sides left in the South Central Division, and as luck would have it they meet today at Imperial Fields, as Tooting and Mitcham United, in fourth place, host leaders Hanwell Town. The Terrors are three points behind the Geordies, but have a game in hand- and if they win today will be behind their opponents on only goal difference- unless they can somehow win by ten clear goals!

Any slip up by Hanwell could see another Town take over at the top- and that could be either Harlow or Chertsey. It would be more likely to be the Hawks, as they are only a point from the summit- but they have the difficult task of hosting Bracknell Town today. Harlow have five consecutive victories under their belt, but the Robins have fluttered back to life in recent weeks and are unlikely to roll over. Chertsey also have a difficult day in prospect, as they host Westfield. After a seven match unbeaten run Field have lost their last two league matches and will hope to get back to winning ways, but the Curfews have lost their last two as well, so the outcome is rather difficult to call.

Uxbridge are in fifth, and the red army have had much to cheer of late, winning six of their last seven league matches. Another victory could take them as high as second, but they’ve rather confident opposition heading their way, as Bedfont Sports- who knocked Step Three Hitchin Town out of the FA Trophy earlier this week- are their visitors.

Seventh placed Chalfont St Peter travel to Staines Town, the Swans still searching for their first League win of the season, whilst Waltham Abbey, in tenth, host FC Romania; the Wolves buoyed by their first win in ten last weekend, as they defeated South Park by four goals to one.

Sparks have a new management team, and they face their first test today as twelfth host eleventh, Barking the visitors to Whitehall Lane. The visiting Blues are just finding form, having won their last two matches.

Thirteenth travel to fourteenth, as Marlow head to the High Road to face Chipstead. The Chips are having an up and down season but defeated Northwood three-nil last time out, whilst Marlow haven’t yet recaptured last season’s form but are undefeated in their last three.

Ware lost their unbeaten record last time out, as they fell to late defeat against Hanwell Town, but they’ll hope to get back to winning ways as they host Hertford Town. The visitors have only one win in their last nine, and arrive at Wodson Park on the back of three consecutive defeats.

Finally, bottom side Northwood travel to third bottom Ashford Town. Woods have five consecutive league defeats, whilst the Tangerines, like their visitors, have only one league win all season.

South East

Our leaders, Cray Valley PM, already have a four point advantage at the top of the division, and will hope to extend that as they host Hythe Town. The Millers come into this match on the back of five consecutive victories, whilst the Cannons have picked up only two points from their last twelve.

Hastings United are our only unbeaten side, and sit in second place with a game in hand over cray. They are also at home today, as fifth place Phoenix Sports arrive at Pilot Field. United have by far the best defence in the division, with only three goals conceded all season- their problem, if there is one, has been at the other end, with eleven of our twenty clubs having scored more goals. Today’s visitors have eleven more, but they’ve conceded fifteen more than their hosts. What does all that mean? Probably nothing whatsoever, but you’ll need to head to Hastings to find out!

Sevenoaks Town, in third, are leaving on a jet plane this morning as they’re on their way to Guernsey. The Green Lions have lost their last two after a promising start to the season, but this is only their second home match of the campaign. Oaks have drawn their last two, but have otherwise been in fabulous form.

VCD Athletic, in fourth, host Burgess Hill Town. The Hillians are under new management, and Jay Lovett’s reign started very well with a three-nil win over Guernsey, whilst Vickers have been in great form, having only lost one of their last ten, and walloped Ashford United last time out.
The Nuts and Bolts travel to Herne Bay as seventh hosts sixth. Ashford got back to winning ways in midweek with victory over Whyteleafe after three successive defeats, whilst Bay had won three on the bounce before losing at Sittingbourne last weekend.

Whitehawk, in ninth, host Whitstable Town. The Hawks haven’t had a league match for a fortnight and beat Burgess Hill last time out, bouncing back after three consecutive defeats, whilst the Oysterboys are unbeaten in three, and indeed have only one defeat in six, but have only won two of that sextet. Mind you, both of those victories came against Sussex sides, so they’ll be hopeful that third time is also lucky.

Chichester City’s FA Cup exploits mean that they haven’t played a home match since September 17th. They lost that one, against Three Bridges, and they’ve only played two league matches in the almost two months since, drawing them both- but if they can bring their FA Cup form to the league the home fans will be delighted. Sittingbourne are the visitors today, and the Brickies will be looking for their third successive league victory.

Whyteleafe host East Grinstead Town looking to bounce back after picking up only one point from their last two matches, whilst the Wasps are still looking for their first league victory of the campaign, having lost their last seven.

Faversham Town put their new management team to the test as they host Three Bridges. The visitors don’t have a win in two months- indeed the last one was that match at Chichester- whilst Town are on a run of W-L-W-L so would undoubtedly like that sequence to continue today.

Finally, Haywards Heath Town host Ramsgate. The Rams made four signings yesterday so might have a rather unfamiliar look, whilst Heath have gone six league matches without a win so will be desperate for three points. The sides have met twice this season already, in the FA Trophy, a 2-2 draw in Kent followed by a 1-0 Heath victory in Sussex.