The battle at the bottom intensifies- whilst the battle for the Playoffs is far from over

We’re going to start our preview with the match between Hullbridge Sports and Brentwood Town, and we’re starting there for two reasons. Firstly, the match kicks off long before the others, as it’s being played at Aveley’s Parkside stadium- isn’t almost everything these days- with a start time of half past eleven. Secondly, both sides are both looking over their shoulders with alarm at what is happening below them.

Sixteenth versus seventeenth takes on more significance because the gap between Sports and the bottom is five points, and between Town and the bottom it is only three. Of the three sides below them Basildon United and Romford have games in hand- two over Sports and three over Town- whilst Felixstowe and Walton United, who have played more matches, have suddenly found form. If our two early-starters don’t find form quickly they could end up in dire peril.

Form is something both have searched forlornly for of late. Sports have taken one point from their last six matches, whilst their visitors, after looking focused and determined in the mddle of last month, have taken only one point from the twelve on offer since. This is a match that neither can really afford to lose.

Romford are one of our form sides at the moment. Boro moved off the bottom in midweek with their fifth win in six, on this occasion over promotion-chasing Tilbury, and they are due to face another playoff contender as Heybridge Swifts come to call- this match will be played at Witham Town FC. There is only one point between the sides second to fifth, and Swifts, without a win in four, desperately need a three-pointer, particularly with sixth place Coggeshall Town making progress behind them.

Basildon United sank to the bottom after Romford’s midweek victory, and will hope to get out of the relegation place as they travel to Dereham Town. Two defeats in a row haven’t helped their cause, but both have come against promotion-chasing sides so perhaps we shouldn’t read too much into that. The hosting Magpies seem to have found form of late, winning their last two, and won’t have given up all hopes of breaking into the top five yet.

Felixstowe and Walton United need victories perhaps more than any other side in the relegation shake up, as they’ve played more matches than those around them. With two wins, two draws and one defeat from their last five they’ll go into their match with Histon in confident mood, particularly so as the visitors have gone six games without a win.

Back at the top end, second place Aveley will see Parkside host its second match of the day as they entertain Canvey Island at 3PM. The Millers are nine matches undefeated, and would be closer to Maldon had they not drawn five of them. The Gulls also know something about draws, as they’ve drawn three of their last four and lost the other.

First takes on fifth as Maldon & Tiptree host Bury Town. With Maldon being fourteen points ahead they can perhaps relax a little, but they have been winning only narrowly of late and drew with Cambridge City in midweek- which might give Town hope of an upset. The last match between the sides ended in a two-one win for the Jammers less than a month ago, and Maldon had to score two late goals to take the points.

It’s third v sixth as Tilbury take on Coggeshall Town. The Dockers have now lost two of their last three and will want to get back into the groove as quickly as they can, whilst the visiting Seed Growers are unbeaten in six matches and, although they are four points off the top five, have a game in hand over Tilbury and three over Swifts and Bury.

Great Wakering Rovers are another side who haven’t given up on a top five spot. They bring Soham Town Rangers to the outskirts of Southend on the back of three consecutive victories, which should give them real confidence. Rangers were on a fine run until recently, winning five of six before defeat against Romford and a draw with Aveley.

Cambridge City have climed to ninth after five consecutive victories and a draw with Maldon. There are eleven points between them and the top five, but if their form continues to be good that shouldn’t be considered insurmountable. The host Witham Town, who are six points off the bottom but won’t consider themselves out of danger yet. The visitors are without a win from their last three matches.

Finally, AFC Sudbury host Grays Athletic. The yellows young side have taken ten points from their last twelve, whilst their visitors are in dire form and have lost their last seven matches, the last five by two goals to one. They are eight points and six places off the bottom, so will want to arrest their slide as quickly as possible to avoid being dragged into the mire.

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