Stortford look to hold on to top spot- but they may not find it easy

Our leaders, Bishop’s Stortford, know that with a three point gap between themselves and fourth place Cray Wanderers they could easily be dethroned, so will be looking to avoid a slip up as relegation threatened Corinthian-Casuals come to call. The Blues, who strengthened with the arrival of Sam Deering yesterday, have scored eleven goals in their last three matches and seem to be over the mini-blip they experienced at the start of the month; whilst their visitors have lost their last five matches. None of those defeats have been particularly heavy, but with five points between them and safety the side in pink and brown really need to start picking up points.

Second place Enfield Town, leaders for a few days until midweek, are on the road to Billericay Town. The Towners have won five of their last six, and defeated the Blues as recently as 24th January- whilst Town have lost their last two and slipped to five points behind fifth place Hornchurch, having played four matches more than the Urchins. Billericay have been very good at home this season, winning ten of their fourteen matches- but the Towners have only lost twice on the road.

Third place Aveley welcome a resurgent Bowers & Pitsea. The Millers have won three of their last four and defeated the then-leaders Hornchurch last time out, whilst their visitors are three matches unbeaten and climbed out of the bottom four for the first time in months with victory over Corinthian-Casuals in midweek.

Cray Wanderers, three points off the top, will hope the sides above them slip up as they travel to Wingate & Finchley. The hosting Blues have only one win from their last ten and have lost four of their last five, a run which has seen them drop into the bottom four. Wands, in contrast, have lost only one of their last ten- and will be out for revenge, as they did lose to these opponents back in November, and Antonis Vasiliou goal the difference between the sides. Wands have won only one of their last seven meetings with the Blues- but we must point out that four of them have ended in draws.

Hornchurch have lost their way a little, but did deliver a thumping win over Billericay Town in the County Cup in midweek. The Urchins could climb back up to second if they can win on the road, but their opponents certainly will be no pushovers, Folkestone Invicta playing hosts. Hornchurch have lost their last two- and indeed have only one win from five, whilst Invicta’s shock defeat at Brightlingsea last time out was rather a surprise, as they were six unbeaten, with five wins, prior to that. Invicta have taken only one point from their last three meetings with Hornchurch, and lost two-one at Bridge Avenue in December.

Canvey Island will hope to climb back into the top five- or perhaps even the top three- but they travel to face a side with similar ambitions, Carshalton Athletic directly behind them in the table, and behind only on goal difference. The Gulls have taken ten points from their last twelve whilst the Robins have stuttered a little of late, two games without a win. Their meeting earlier in the season was a draw, and given that was the first time they’d faced off for eight years there’s little point us talking about the recent history between the clubs, there isn’t any!

Lewes have closed to within four points of the top five, and will hope to be closer still as Kingstonian come to call. The Rooks have only two defeats from their last ten, whilst their opponents have taken only five points from the last thirty available- the worst run in the league. The K’s also suffered the resignation of their manager in midweek, although he is staying on for a while whilst they find a replacement. The Rooks defeated the K’s three-one in December.

Potters Bar Town, back to winning ways in midweek, are looking up the table rather than down as they welcome Haringey Borough to the Lantern Stadium. The Scholars had gone seven without a win before their triumph at Herne Bay in midweek, whilst Borough have been in mixed form, three wins and two defeats from their last five. Two goals from Kasim Aidoo gave the Scholars a two-one win at Coles Park in November, Alphanso Kennedy replying for Borough.

Horsham have been in fine form and will hope to continue their climb up the table as they travel to face bottom side Herne Bay. The Hornets take a seven match unbeaten run to the Kentish seaside, and indeed have lost only one of their last ten. Their hosts had seemed to have turned a corner but defeats to Canvey and Potters Bar have knocked the confidence out of them a little. With a six point gap between themselves and safety they’ll quickly need to find their feet again- and they have beaten the Hornets this season, two-one in the FA Cup. Horsham won four-one in the league meeting, however.

Hastings United have slipped to thirteenth after losing three of their last four. They welcome Margate to Pilot Field, Gate having seemingly found their feet once more having won their last two and going three unbeaten. Seven points separate the sides, but United will probably be more focused on the eight point gap that has opened up between themselves and the Play Off places. United won two-one at Hartsdown Park in December.

Bognor Regis Town delivered a big win in the County Cup in midweek, and will hope for another as Brightlingsea Regent come to call- but Regent may be inclined to have other ideas after their recent resurgence. The visitors have lost only one of their last five and narrowed the gap on safety to four points; whilst the Rocks finally seem to have gone back on track and are two unbeaten (three if you count that match in midweek). The two sides will meet again on March 7th.

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