It's the big one!

Hashtag United have opened up a four point lead at the top of the Pitching In isthmian North table, a lead they’ve created after wining SEVENTEEN consecutive matches- but second place AFC Sudbury could cut that substantially if they could win our titanic top two battle at the Len Salmon. The Yellows have managed to drop points in two of their last four fixtures- almost criminal given their previous form- but with a game in hand could put themselves right back on track for the title if they can pick up three points. When the two last met, back in November, Sudbury triumphed four-two, so the Tags will have revenge- and a potential seven point lead at the top- on their minds. Get there early, it’s likely to be rather busy and the Len Salmon car park isn’t enormous!

Lowestoft Town, in third place, find themselves eighteen points behind the leaders and will be more focused on the gap between themselves and sixth place. The Trawler Boys are back at home, Witham Town coming to call. The hosts have lost only one of their last ten, whilst their visitors have won their last two and have opened up an eight point gap between themselves and the bottom four.

Felixstowe & Walton United, who start the weekend in fourth place, look to have a difficult task as they welcome Wroxham. The Seasiders have a fabulous home record so won’t be short on confidence, but the Yachtsmen have been incredibly difficult to beat- indeed they’ve drawn more matches than any other side in the Division- and have lost only two of their last sixteen matches. Those defeats came against our top two, and both were rather narrow, so the visitors have every reason to be confident. The first meeting of the two sides this season ended in a two-two draw.

Heybridge Swifts, who announced two new signings yesterday, could climb to fourth if they can defeat New Salamis- although lose and they could fall to seventh, so there’s little room for failure. Swifts have only three defeats from their last ten, whilst Salamis have only three wins from their last ten- yet the North Londoners continue to be difficult to defeat and will undoubtedly put up a fight.

Grays Athletic take on their local rivals- and as of next season, landlords- Tilbury. Both sides need the points, albeit for entirely different reasons. Athletic are only a point away from the top five and know that victory could see them climb into the play off places; whilst the Dockers find themselves only a point above the bottom four and could drop as low as second from bottom if they were to lose again. With only one win from ten defeat is something Dockers fans have had to get used to, whilst Athletic ended a four match winless run by defeating Gorleston last time out.

Stowmarket Town, two points behind fifth place Swifts but with two games in hand, are back at home to take on another stripy side, Basildon United. Stow have gone four without a win, whilst the Bees have a winless run which is double that and would like to increase the five point gap between themselves and the bottom four.

Fourth bottom Hullbridge Sports welcome an East Thurrock United side who haven’t yet given up on their promotion dreams. The Rocks are five unbeaten and looking almost back to their best, whilst Sports have lost nine of their last ten matches and are in real trouble- another defeat could see them fall even deeper into trouble.

Bury Town welcome Gorleston. The hosts are eleven points away from the play off spots and will need to find some form if they are to have any chance of troubling the play off spots, whilst the travelling Greens- probably the only travelling greens in the country at the moment, but don’t worry, you can eat turnips- could leap out of the bottom four if they could fashion an away win. Bury’s problem is undoubtedly in front of goal, they’ve gone four matches without scoring; whilst Gorleston managed three goals and three points when defeating Hullbridge in midweek. Town won their first meeting this season, two-nil.

Brentwood Town welcome Coggeshall Town to the Arena. The Blues are five unbeaten, although have drawn their last three; whilst the Seed Growers have lost only one of their last six- and that a narrow defeat against leaders Hashtag United- so will have real belief that they can climb to safety after spending much of the campaign at the bottom. Three points this weekend could even lift them to sixteenth. Town won the last meeting between the sides by the only goal of the game.

Bottom side Great Wakering Rovers, without a win since October 8th, welcome Maldon & Tiptree to Burrough’s Park for a 2PM kick off. Rovers are six points from safety and whilst most of their recent defeats have been by a narrow margin they have still been defeats; whilst the Jammers got back to winning ways at Basildon in midweek. They’ve eased themselves to ten points clear of danger.

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