The South Central Hokey Cokey

Last Saturday saw the top three in the South Central Division doing their version of the Hokey Cokey, as leaders Ware lost to third place Westfield, who jumped up to second, whilst Ware, down to third, were also leapfrogged by Hanwell Town, who came from behind to go back to the top. Confused? Well it could happen all over again this weekend!

Our top match comes from Hanwell Town, where the Geordies take on Westfield in a match of first v second. After a blip when they managed only one victory from seven matches Town have got back to form of late, with two victories in a row, whilst their opponents have been superb, winning their last six matches after drawing the four before that. It’s difficult to pick a winner from that clash of the titans, but if there isn’t one they could both be leapfrogged by Ware, who host Bedfont Sports.

The Blues have won three and lost three of their last six, but it’s worth noting that every defeat has come against a side in the top five. Sports are twelfth, but they certainly aren’t playing like a mid-table side, given they have only one defeat in their last ten matches and defeated promotion-chasing Waltham Abbey- one of the three who beat Ware- in their last match. It promises to be a titanic struggle at Wodson Park.

The Abbotts, in fourth, will try to bounce back from that defeat as they travel to face a Marlow side who will still be wondering how they lost to the Geordies last weekend. Two goals up after fourteen minutes, somehow they ended up with nothing- but they have been rather difficult to beat, having lost fewer games that their visitors tomorrow despite being twelve points behind them. Abbey were on a magnificent run prior to that defeat against Bedfont Sports, and will hope to get back to the form that had recently seen them defeat both Ware and another promotion-chasing side, Uxbridge.

Tooting & Mitcham United’s form over the last ten matches has been so up and down that you’d think they were dangling from a bungee rope. The Terrors lost to Uxbridge last time out, but when they’ve been good this season they’ve been very good indeed, so FC Romania will travel to Imperial Fields hoping that the inconsistent Tooting turn up. The Wolves stopped a run of eight consecutive defeats last weekend by defeating Ashford Town, and will hope to build on that.

Ashford Town will look to bounce back from that defeat, which dumped them once more at the bottom of the table, as they host Uxbridge. The Red Army, who see their side in sixth place, will be buoyed by that victory over Tooting and know that a win could possibly see them back into the top five at the Terrors expense.

Barking have been our form side over the last ten matches, and have closed to within three points of a playoff place. The Blues host Chalfont St Peter after taking twenty five points from the last thirty, their only defeat coming against leaders Hanwell Town, whilst the Saints are on a bit of a downward spiral with only one point from twelve so will be desperate to end that cycle.

Eighth travels to ninth as Chertsey Town head to Larges Lane to take on Bracknell Town. The Robins appear to be on the up having won their last three matches, whilst the Curfews ended a stale spell by thumping Harlow Town last time out.

Harlow, in tenth, are on their travels once again, as they head around the M25 to take on Chipstead. The Hawks, who don’t have a manager as we write, have only one win in ten matches, and will have to be back to their best to take anything from a Chipstead side who have been in superb form of late, unbeaten in a six match spell that has brought them five victories.

Another side who have been impressive in recent weeks are South Park. The Sparks have lost only one of their last six in a run that has included victories over Hanwell and Bracknell Town(s), and travel to Northwood full of confidence. The Woods, in contrast, have suffered five consecutive defeats and will want to bounce back.

Finally, Hertford Town take on Staines Town. The hosts have taken only seven points from their last thirty and have lost six of their last seven, whilst their visitors have only one more point from the same period and are without a victory in their last six.