Marlow and Walton play each other- can the Woods take advantage and extend their lead?

Our leaders, Northwood, crashed to heavy defeat last weekend, and will perhaps be praying for a draw by the Thames as their two closest rivals face off this afternoon. Woods, who have a three point lead at the top, travel to Tooting & Mitcham United looking to bounce back from that reverse against Hanworth Villa, and will also want to consign to memory their last trip to Imperial Fields, a match which saw them lose seven-three in October 2021. Woods did defeat the Terrors the last time they met, a three-two win on the opening day of our campaign.

Down by the riverside, Walton & Hersham, in second place, welcome third place Marlow. The two are separated only by goals scored, although Marlow are in marginally better form at present. The last time the two met, on the opening day, they delivered a seven goal thriller- a late, late goal from Dawid Rogalski giving him a hat trick and Marlow three points.

Basingstoke Town may find themselves in fourth, but they are only five points off the top with two games in hand. Stoke are on the road to face a much-improved Bedfont Sports, the side from the end of the Heathrow runway currently six matches un beaten and having lifted themselves out of the bottom four. Stoke are effectively the form side of an inconsistent division at present, winning seven of their last ten matches- including six of their last seven. Back on August 13th the two sides played out a goalless draw.

We’ve sixth v fifth as South Park Reigate welcome Chertsey Town. The Curfews are three unbeaten and have looked close to their best of late, whilst the Sparks are also three unbeaten and seem to have been untroubled by their recent managerial change. The Curfews walloped the Sparks four-nil on opening day, and indeed are unbeaten in five matches against these opponents, winning three.

Southall are having a fine campaign, and welcome Merstham with only two points separating them and the top five. Hall have lost only two of their last ten, whilst the visiting Moatsiders remain bottom but finally seem to be finding some form, with only one defeat from their last six. They have drawn four of those, however, and if they are going to escape the bottom four will need to start turning one point into three.

Westfield have slipped to ninth, but are still only three points behind the top five. They welcome Leatherhead to Woking Park, the Tanners three places- but seven points- behind them at kick off. A run of one win in seven matches has seen the hosts hit a sticky patch, whilst a three match unbeaten run has seen the Tanners climb the table. Field won their meeting on opening day by four goals to nil, so we suspect the Tanners will be out for revenge.

Hanworth Villa, conquerors of Northwood last time out, will hope to build on that result and close the gap on the top five as they take on Uxbridge. This is a mid table battle, tenth v thirteenth, but the visitors seem to have lost their way a little, losing the last three.

Chipstead don’t get to play their old rivals Whyteleafe any more, but they get to travel to Whyteleafe today as they face Sutton Common Rovers. The Chips are going really well, and make the trip defending an eight match unbeaten run; whilst Rovers have dropped into the bottom four courtesy of seven consecutive defeats. Their opening day meeting was a seven goal thriller, Rovers triumphing four-three.

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