It's tight at the top!

Last weekend the unthinkable happened in the North Division- leaders Canvey Island lost! That defeat, their first of the season, came at the hands of second place Dereham Town, and the Gulls will now be looking over their shoulders a little as fourth place Stowmarket Town arrive this afternoon. The visitors, who strengthened their squad with two new arrivals yesterday, arrive on the Island on the back of a six game unbeaten run which includes five victories, four clean sheets and only two goals conceded- so Canvey perhaps couldn’t have tougher opposition as they look to put that rare defeat behind them. They had won eight in a row before the Magpies flew in, mind you, which is why the Vita Risk Solutions Manager of the Month Award is being presented- above!

Dereham are now behind Canvey only on goal difference, and a better outcome than Canvey as they travel to Heybridge Swifts could see them hit the summit. With seven wins from ten- and only one draw- the Magpies have been in scintillating form, but they’ll need to be wary against a Swifts side who scored seven last time out and have scored sixteen in their last four matches- a run in which only Brentwood Town have defeated them.

AFC Sudbury are on the road as third travel to sixth, Aveley the hosts. The Yellows have only one defeat in nine and have had a super season so far, whilst the Millers, only three points behind their visitors but having played two games more, have been a little hit and miss- every time they seem to find form they then come unstuck, although they’ll count themselves a little unlucky in defeat at Stowmarket last weekend.

Grays Athletic, in fifth, are on the road to Bury Town. Their eighth place hosts haven’t yet set the world alight and only have two wins from seven, but surely must start to threaten the top five at some point- whilst Athletic have also gone off the boil of late, with one win from six.

Brentwood Town conceded more goals in the last fifteen minutes at Barking on Tuesday night than they had in the previous five matches combined, as their six game winning streak came to an end when they let a three goal lead slip to take only a draw. Tilbury heads to the Arena, The Dockers- the form of striker Roman Campbell apart- looking a shadow of the side that contested at the top end during the last two (albeit unfinished) seasons. With only two wins in ten surely they are going to start climbing the table soon?

Maldon & Tiptree, in an uncharacteristic eighth place, welcome a Romford side who have lost their last six- and indeed eight of their last ten, with only four points taken from thirty. The Jammers have gone three without a win, but did defeat their local rivals Heybridge Swifts in the Velocity Trophy in midweek.

Hashtag United’s new forward Sam Bantick will have be quickly reunited with former employers Coggeshall Town as his side heads to face the Seed Growers. The two are separated by one place and two points, one defeat in seven for the Tags seeing them attain supremacy in that struggle, whilst Town have won only one of their last five.

Basildon United have looked much improved of late, and the Bees welcome the Seasiders, as Felixstowe and Walton United make the trip to the town with the world’s strangest statue. The Bees have won three of their last four, the seasiders got back to winning ways after three defeats last time out, and although their a three points and two places between them the visitors do have three games in hand.

Barking will be buoyed by that last fifteen minutes on Tuesday night- their first point after five consecutive defeats. They welcome Hullbridge Sports to Mayesbrook Park, the visitors still without a win all season and marooned at the bottom of the table, five points behind second bottom Romford and ten points behind their hosts.

Third bottom Witham Town welcome Great Wakering Rovers. The visitors may only be one point ahead but their form has been on a different trajectory of late, with only one defeat from their last four- whilst Town have taken three points from their last thirty and are desperate for a positive result.

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