The Scholars and the Urchins take their top two battle on the road

League leaders Potters Bar Town are suddenly and surprisingly without a manager, after Sammy Moore’s unexpected move to bottom-of-the-South-East-Division Faversham Town. The Scholars, who suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of second place Hornchurch last time out, are a point ahead of the Urchins and may well need to get a positive result at Carshalton Athletic to stay at the top of the table. The Robins aren’t likely to make that easy, as they are in good form and know that a win could well see them break into the top five. With only one defeat from their last eight in the League, they won’t be short on confidence- but the Scholars will have fond memories of their last visit to Colston Avenue, a three-two win in March. The goals came from Calvin Ekpiteta, Joseph Boachie and Corey Parchment- Ekpiteta, of course, now with the Robins.

Hornchurch are on the road for an Essex derby, as they face Bowers and Pitsea. The hosts suffered a midweek hammering at the hands of Folkestone Invicta, but had delivered some good recent results prior to that and will hope, after defeating the Urchins promotion rivals Aveley the last time they were at the Len Salmon, that they can deliver a similar result. Hornchurch have only one defeat from their last thirteen league matches, and one more win could take them to the summit. Bowers have a good recent record against the Urchins, with only one defeat from their last four meetings- and defeated them two-one as recently as April. The match kicks off at 2PM.

Aveley, in third place, are on the road to Horsham- who knocked them out of the FA Trophy in October, the Hornets coming from two-nil and three-one down to win. The Millers have taken their foot off the gas a little of late, losing at Bowers and drawing with Kingstonian- whilst much the same can be said about the K’s, who have taken only one point from their last three matches. This one has a one o’clock kick off.

Our match of the day sees fourth place Enfield Town welcome fifth place Bishop’s Stortford. The visiting Blues are a point behind the Towners with a game in hand, and six points behind the leaders with two games in hand- but are having their first blip for many a month, with only one win from their last four matches in League and Trophy. The Towners only defeat from their last seven came in a Velocity Trophy shootout at Haringey Borough, but they don’t have a good recent record against the Blues, losing their last three. Kick off is at 1230 PM.

Canvey Island, in seventh place, are potentially only a win away from the top five, and they welcome a fast improving Folkestone Invicta. The Gulls saw a winning run come to an end with only one point from their last two matches, whilst Invicta have suddenly found form, scoring seven goals and conceding only one as they won their last two matches. Another Invicta win could potentially see them break into the top ten.

Bognor Regis Town welcome Hastings United in a Sussex seaside bash. The visiting seasiders start the day four points and seven places behind United, but were on a good run until Haringey Borough came to call and ended it last weekend. They’ve since added Portsmouth striker Dan Gifford on loan to boost their firepower. Whilst the Rocks were falling to defeat, United were defeating Corinthian-Casuals three-nil- and they start the weekend five points away from a play off spot, although with one or two matches in hand over the sides occupying the top five places.

Kingstonian welcome Cray Wanderers to Tooting, with a one o’clock kick off. The K’s have taken only one point from their last three league matches but each of those was on the road, and they’ve been much better at home, winning their last three in the league and defeating Corinthian-Casuals in the Surrey Cup in midweek. Wands have gone four league matches without a win- but they did draw three of them, and indeed have drawn half their matches so far.

Haringey Borough defended doggedly and didn’t look too bad going forward either as they defeated Bognor last weekend, and they welcome Lewes to White Hart Lane. That win against the Rocks followed a shootout victory over local rivals Enfield Town, and although they’ve been inconsistent at home they’ll look at the away record of visitors Lewes and feel confident. The Rooks have won only one of their eight matches on the road this season, and seem to be struggling for consistency once more, having gone four without a win in League and Trophy. The Rooks have a good recent record against these opponents, however, taking ten points from the last twelve.

We’ve two crucial matches at the wrong end of the table. Bottom side Corinthian-Casuals welcome the side two places and two points above them, Brightlingsea Regent. Regent have looked improved with two draws- against Hornchurch and Herne Bay- from their last two, but are without a league win since August Bank Holiday Monday; whilst Casuals have only two league wins all season and have only one draw to show for their efforts in their last five matches in league, Velocity and Surrey cups.

Second bottom Herne Bay welcome the side just outside of the bottom four, Wingate & Finchley. Bay, seven points from safety, will be desperate to win this one- but they haven’t won a league match since October 11th. The visiting Blues have won only one of their last seven in all competitions.

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