The Play Off battle continues tonight

Folkestone Invicta’s defeat against Lewes on Saturday has left them in fifth place with the Rooks breathing down their necks- which makes tonight’s fixtures critical for both sides.

Invicta are on the road to Sussex, where they will face Horsham. Neil Cugley’s men have struggled both with injuries and for form of late, having taken only one point from their last three matches, but they will be heartened by the fact that tonight’s opponents have very much been a cup team this season, and have won only one of their last ten matches in the league. The Hornets have a seven point cushion between themselves and third bottom Cray Wanderers, but will desperately want to confirm safety as quickly as possible; whereas if Invicta lose them match they could also lose their place in the top five.

Invicta have won the last EIGHT meetings between the clubs.

Lewes will be extremely heartened by Saturday’s win at Invicta and determined to push home their promotion claims as they welcome Margate. The travelling Blues hopes of gatecrashing the play off party look all but gone, three defeats in their last four matches putting paid to their hopes, whilst the Rooks faithful will hope that their side can now go on a winning run, as they’ve been rather inconsistent over their last six matches.

The Rooks have lost only one of their last six meetings with the Blues, and won by six goals to two at Hartsdown Park in October. Margate have travelled to Sussex three times so far this season, and not taken a point from any of those visits.

Cheshunt are only five points behind the Rooks and eight points behind Invicta, but have two games in hand over both of their rivals. The Ambers are on the road to Brightlingsea Regent, who need the points for an entirely different reason, given there are only one point from the danger zone. Until defeat against Champions-elect Worthing on Saturday Cheshunt were eight games unbeaten; whilst Regent have won only two of their last ten.

When the two last met the Ambers won three-one, and Regent haven’t beaten these opponents for six years- although the vast majority of their recent encounters have ended in draws.

Bottom side East Thurrock United have themselves hope of survival with victory over Corinthian-Casuals on Saturday, but are still six points from safety. The Rocks will hope to continue that progress when Potters Bar Town come to call tonight, but will have their work cut out as the Scholars have been in fine form, losing only two of their last ten. The Scholars have won the last three meetings between the sides, with an aggregate score of seven goals to one. Their last meeting, back in October, finished three-nil.

Finally, we have a mid table battle between Corinthian-Casuals and Haringey Borough. Both sides are eight points above the drop zone, but neither are in particularly good form. Casuals have taken only four points from their last thirty and are without a win since January 15th, whilst Borough have taken twelve points from the same number but have been consistently inconsistent all season. The last time they met, Casuals won by the only goal. The last five meetings between the sides have seen two wins each and one draw.

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