Towners and Rooks in a clash of the entertainers- but can Worthing increase their gap at the top with Invicta absent?

Our league leaders, Worthing, had an uncharacteristic slip on Monday as they lost to Carshalton Athletic, and they’ll be favourites to get back on track at second bottom East Thurrock United. The Mackerel Men have now lost three of their last ten- more defeats that Bishop’s Stortford, Cheshunt, Hornchurch or Corinthian-Casuals during that period- so will hope to get back to winning ways and take advantage of Folkestone Invicta’s enforced absence to extend their lead at the top. The Rocks have lost five of their last six and will be desperate to pick up some points.

Worthing narrowly won the reverse fixture back in September, three-two.

Bishop’s Stortford have the longest unbeaten run in the Division, fourteen matches- but they face a tough test as they travel to FA Trophy winners Hornchurch. The Urchins have won their last five matches, but don’t have a good record against the Blues, losing five of their last seven meetings- including their last two.

Our match of the day sees fourth place Enfield Town host fifth place Lewes. The two are separated only by goal difference, the Rooks scoring more than the Towners but conceding more, too- indeed there are only eight sides with worse defensive records, but only one with a better record in front of goal. The two sides have two of the most potent strikers in the League; for the Towners, Mo Faal, who has so far managed twenty six goals in twenty nine matches, whilst for the Rooks Joe Taylor has twenty from twenty five. Both sides conceded four goals on Monday, so both will want to tighten up at the back.

Cheshunt, who dropped out of the top five on Monday, will hope to climb back into the playoff places as they travel to Merstham. You never know quite which Merstham you’re going to get, but they ended a seven match run without a win when defeating Wingate & Finchley last time out; whilst the Ambers have lost only one out of their last ten, although have looked more vulnerable over the New Year weekend than previously.

Talking of vulnerable, Brightlingsea Regent saw a two game winning run come to an end over the long weekend, conceding three to Haringey Borough and five to Hornchurch. This probably isn’t the best time to be welcoming a resurgent Kingstonian, the K’s having put four past Lewes on Monday. The K’s have won the last three meetings between the sides, and will hope to make it four.

Margate are on the road to face a side under new management, Leatherhead boss Luke Tuffs getting a baptism of fire against a side who have won their last three. The Tanners really need to start winning if they are to have any chance of escaping the drop, whilst the Blues are decidedly looking the other way, only three points off the playoff places.

Corinthian-Casuals host Haringey Borough. Casuals have been one of our form teams of late, with only one defeat from their last ten; whilst Borough have looked much more like their old selves since Christmas, winning two and drawing the other of their three games. Their last five meetings have seen two wins each and a draw.

Potters Bar Town will host Cray Wanderers. The Scholars are having a terrible run, with three consecutive defeats, and four losses from five, whilst the Wands have had a bit of a new manager honeymoon, defeating East Thurock United and drawing four-all with Enfield Town since Grant Basey took charge.

The matches at Carshalton Athletic and Horsham have been subject to covid-related postponements.

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