Tough tests for the top two

Basingstoke Town and Walton & Hersham have four points between them at the top of Pitching In Isthmian South Central, and both sides keep churning out win after win- to some extent runs overshadowed by Hashtag United’s North Division antics but magnificent nonetheless.

With thirteen wins in a row, Town take their fine form on the road to take on third place Northwood. The Woods are four unbeaten, and have kept clean sheets in their last three, and whilst they’ve fallen fifteen points behind the leaders they could reignite the title race with victory, as well as making their own play off place even more secure. They did defeat Stoke at Winklebury back in October, a Sydney Ibie spot kick the difference between the sides.

Walton have won their last ten matches, a run which has seen them average just under three goals a game- and they’ve kept clean sheets in three of the last four. The Swans are on the road to Chertsey Town, the Curfews having dropped out of the top five after a run of five matches without a win. When the two sides met at the Sports Hub in October, the Swans came from behind to take an eighty-ninth minutes win in a five goal thriller.

We’ve fourth v fifth as Marlow welcome Hanworth Villa. Four points separate the two sides, Marlow five unbeaten, with the Villains having won their last three and looking for revenge, Marlow winning their last encounter with a goal in the very last minute.

Binfield, two points away from that coveted fifth spot, welcome South Park Reigate. A run of one win in eight matches has seen the Sparks fall out of play off contention, whilst the Moles are two unbeaten but have been in similarly poor form, with only one win from their last eight. The Sparks came from behind to defeat the Moles three-one the last time they met, in a match when Binfield ended the first half with only nine men.

Southall, in eighth place, host a derby as Bedfont Sports come to call. Sports have slipped to six points away from safety, a run of one win in ten their undoing, whilst Hall are continually difficult to defeat- indeed, only leaders Basingstoke Town have lost fewer matches. They hammered Sports four-one when the two sides last met.

Westfield welcome bottom side Tooting & Mitcham United to Woking Park. Eight points away from the top five and twelve clear of the bottom four, Field have only one win from their last eight and are probably safe from being involved in any drama at either end of the table; whilst the Terrors position is truly terrifying, thirteen points from safety with only eight matches remaining. It seems rather inexplicable that a side who have provided a plethora of professional players to the Football League over the last few years are in such danger of falling to Step Five, but unless they can find a way to start picking up points that danger is far too real.

Uxbridge, who scored six in midweek and have lost only one of their last seven matches, welcome a side who still need points on the board despite recent improvements, Guernsey- who saw a four match unbeaten run end against Merstham in midweek. The match is a ‘pay what you want’ event to celebrate Uxbridge’s Community day, free for under sixteens, and they may well be royally entertained- but remember, it kicks off at 2!

Chipstead, in thirteenth, are above their visitors, Leatherhead, on goal difference- both sides nine points clear of the bottom four. The Chips finally got back to winning ways last time out, whilst the Tanners have also lost their way a little, with only one win from their last seven matches. When the two last met the Chips came from two down to score three goals in the last half an hour at Fetcham Grove and take three points.

Sutton Common Rovers are eight points from safety, and need a win against Thatcham Town at Whyteleafe. Rovers lost for the first time in six matches last time out, whilst the Kingfishers long unbeaten run has come to an end, and they’ve lost their last two. Rovers will be looking to complete a double, after winning October’s encounter two-one.

Merstham gave themselves real hope of survival with that win in Guernsey in midweek, and the Moatsiders can give themselves another boost and move to within two points of safety if they can defeat the side directly above them in the table, Ashford Town. The Tangerines were hit for six at Uxbridge in midweek and have lost their last four, scoring two goals and conceding fifteen- whilst the Moatsiders are six unbeaten and full of confidence.

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