The top two battle it out- whilst Swifts and Stow are away, hunting giants!

The unthinkable happened in midweek- AFC Sudbury lost a match! We now have no unbeaten clubs in Pitching In Isthmian North, and three who have lost only once- but the3 other two of those, Heybridge Swifts and Stowmarket Town, are away in FA Trophy action.

The Yellows are on the road to face their nearest challengers, long-term leaders Lowestoft Town, both sides trying not to end up with successive defeats. A Trawler Boys win will see them restored at the top of the table, anything else will see the Yellows stay there- and a defeat for the home side could see third place Hashtag United join them on thirty one points.

The Tags also have a tough match, as they head to Parkside to take on Grays Athletic. The visitors have won four of their last five, their only defeat coming at the hands of Sudbury, whilst Grays have slipped to seventh after two defeats- to the top two- in their last four matches. Last season saw Athletic take six points from the Tags, and they’ll hope for three more- but it might be rather more difficult this time around.

Felixstowe and Walton United could climb as high as third if they can win at Hullbridge Sports. With the two sides immediately above them not in league action a victory will, at the vey least, take them fourth- although the hosts will perhaps be boosted by the fact that, whilst the Seasiders have been invincible at home, they’ve been less convincing on the road. Sports have gone eight league matches without a win- and conceded six points and six goals to the Seasiders last season.

Bury Town are on the road to Essex, where they will face Great Wakering Rovers. Town have taken seven points from their last nine, and have striker Cemal Ramadan in his usual fine form, with sixteen goals this season. Rovers have gone six matches in League and Velocity Cup without managing a victory.

New Salamis are having a fine season, and they are on the road to face fast-improving Maldon & Tiptree. Salamis had taken ten points from their last twelve- including inflicting defeat on then-leaders Lowestoft Town- until defeat at Hashtag United on Monday; whilst the Jammers seem to have turned their season around, winning their last two and scoring seven goals in the process.

East Thurrock United saw their good run come to a crashing half as they conceded four to Maldon last time out. Prior to the arrival of the Jammers they had won five in a row, and they will hope to start another run as they travel to face Coggeshall Town. The Seed Growers are bottom of the table and without a league win, but on Tuesday night got back to winning ways when knocking Hullbridge Sports out of the Essex Senior Cup, and their new management team will hope for more of the same.

Witham Town welcome Basildon United. Town have only one win from their last eight league matches, whilst the Bees won against Coggeshall Town last weekend and have a similar record, that being their first win in eight, too. Last season’s encounters both ended in draws.

Into the FA Trophy, and Banbury United, mid table in National League North, play host to Stowmarket Town. The hosts picked up their first win in nine matches last weekend, but although Stow may be two steps lower they are in fabulous form, fourteen games unbeaten. They’ll travel full of hope and with plenty of confidence that they can create an upset. They’ll also travel with a fantastic recent defensive record, five clean sheets from their last six.

Heybridge Swifts, who became the first side to defeat Pitching In Isthmian North leaders AFC Sudbury in midweek, welcome a big name to Scraley Road, and that’s no bull! Hereford, mid table in National League North, have been particularly good in cup competitions this season, reaching the First Round of the FA Cup- and they did defeat an Isthmian side, Three Bridges, on the way to that match at Portsmouth. Swifts- pictured after defeating Royston Town, courtesy of Alan Edmonds- have already slain several giants this season, and will channel the memories Cup and Trophy runs of 2017-18 and try to take another scalp.

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