It's the big one!

Hanworth Villa blew the title race wide open with a narrow victory at leaders Basingstoke Town last weekend, and Stoke have the most difficult task as they look to bounce back- a trip to second place Walton & Hersham. The Swans have won their last thirteen matches, and striker Eddie Simon- this week seen starring on Sky Sports News- has scored a hat trick in each of their last four. A home win would put the Swans on top for the first time this season, with only four matches to hold on. A Taurean Roberts goal decided their last meeting in favour of the Swans, on December 17th.

Third place Marlow are nine matches unbeaten, and travel to Westfield hoping to take a step closer to confirming their play off place. At this point, and with a nine point gap between themselves and the side in sixth place, Marlow’s focus will perhaps be on guaranteeing home advantage, wgich means they have to stay above Northwood, who are a point behind. Field are eight points away from the top five, not insurmountable but it’ll need a herculean effort with only five games to go if they are to get themselves into the top five.

Northwood are also on the road, and in most weeks their match against fifth place Binfield would be our match of the day. The Woods have a seven point cushion over their hosts and will want that to remain at least the same length; whilst the Moles know that defeat could see them cast out of the top five in favour of Hanworth Villa or Chertsey Town. With only one defeat from five, the hosts are looking to be almost back to their best, but the two sides played out a goalless draw less than a month ago. POSTPONED.

Hanworth Villa are only a point outside the top five- and they have a game in hand over all of the sides above them. The Villains, with only three defeats from ten, welcome another side who are in good form- Guernsey have lost only two from that same period. The Green Lions have opened up a seven point gap over the bottom four, but would dearly like to expand that lead. Their hosts, of course, have bigger fish to fry. POSTPONED.

Chertsey Town have slipped to seventh on the back of a run of one win in eight. That win did come last time out, however, and they’ll hope to build on that as they travel to Thatcham Town. With seven points between the sides the Kingfishers would need a great deal of luck to get involved in the play off campaign, and have seen their form slow down of late, only one win from their last six. They did defeat the Curfews three-nil in Surrey as recently as February 7th.

Southall welcome Chipstead in a mid table battle- and a win for the visitors could see them take seventh place from their hosts. Both are mathematically in the play off hunt, although more realistically Southall could get involved, their six point deficit coming with a game in hand. ‘All are one of three sides who have drawn thirteen times this season, the other two in the bottom four because the West Londoners have been far more difficult to beat! Only three sides- our top three- have lost fewer games. POSTPONED.

Ninth place South Park Reigate play host to Uxbridge. The Sparks have seen their promotion bid falter with only two wins from ten; whilst their visitors have also only won twice during the same period, so a battle of two form sides this isn’t. Uxbridge are nine points clear of the bottom four and will want to extend that gap; whilst their hosts are seven points away from the top five.

We end our preview by focusing on the bottom four. Our big match comes from Whyteleafe, as Sutton Common Rovers, third from bottom, welcome the side one place and two points ahead of them, Merstham. The Moatsiders defeat to Binfield last time out was only their second in ten matches, and they remain three points behind sixteenth place Ashford Town with a game in hand and a significantly better goal difference. Rovers have also been in good form, only three defeats from ten, and would dearly love to go above their visitors.

Second bottom Bedfont Sports were fighting for a play off spot this time last season, but find themselves six points from safety. Leatherhead, in thirteenth, say that they haven’t given up on the play offs but are nine points away from the top five- albeit with a game in hand. Both sides, then, need the points, and the Tanners have won three of their last four whilst Sports are without a win since the end of January.

Finally, Ashford Town, three points clear of the bottom four, are desperate for a win having gone eight games without one. They head to bottom side Tooting & Mitcham United, who are fourteen points from safety with only fifteen left on the table. Another failure to take three points- something they haven’t managed in their last eight matches- would see them left with only a relegation play off place to play for, and they are nine points from that chance of a lifeline as we enter the weekend.

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