Wands and Blues hope to challenge the Urchins for top spot

Leaders Hornchurch have what looks to be a tricky trip, as they head to the Sussex seaside to take on Hastings United. The Pilot Field side are on their best run of the campaign, seven matches unbeaten-a run which has seen the keep three clean sheets and concede only four goals. The Urchins have only lost one of their last seven but have taken only a point from their last two, and another slip up could see Cray Wanderers or Bishop’s Stortford take over at the top.

Wands, who start the weekend in second place, have played three games more than the sides around them, but they are unbeaten in eight and have won their last four. They travel to Canvey Island hoping that the manager of the month curse won’t hit! The Gulls should prove tough opponents, outside of the top five only on goal difference, and having defeated the side directly above them- Aveley- last time out. Wands won their first encounter this season, however the Gulls won the previously three times the two sides met- although those three matches spanned a period of nine years!

Third place Bishop’s Stortford suffered a surprise defeat at the hands of Brightlingsea Regent last time out, and will hope to get back to winning ways as they return to their own patch. Victory may not be easy, however, as the visitors are Lewes, the Rooks having lost only two of their last ten matches. That said, the Blues are unbeaten at home and were six games unbeaten until that unexpected reverse on Monday. The Rooks won their previous encounter, in August, by two goals to one- despite playing most of the match with ten men after Will Salmon’s red card.

Enfield Town have been in fine form of late, and welcome Kingstonian on the back of a run which has seen them lose only one match from their last nine. The K’s, conversely, haven’t been able to buy a win of late, and travel to North London having taken only one point from the last twenty one available. Only one point separates the visitors and fourth-bottom Corinthian-Casuals, who defeated them on Monday. The K’s haven’t defeated the Towners since April 2019- that’s five meetings without a win- but the August match between the two sides ended goalless.

Aveley will hope to get back to winning ways against a side who have gone six matches without a win, Bognor Regis Town. The Rocks are on their worst run of the season, whilst the visiting Millers are in a similar boat, with only one win from their last seven. Revenge may be in the air for the visitors- the last time they met, at Parkside in August, Bognor delivered their best performance of the season, winning by six goals to one.

Potters Bar Town, who have fallen out of the top five after taking only one point from their last five matches, travel to take on Billericay Town. The Blues are three unbeaten and have closed to within four points of the top five- victory will take them to within one point of their visitors. Alternatively an away win could see the Scholars up at fourth.

Carshalton Athletic are our form side at present, with only one defeat from their last ten matches. The Robins are six unbeaten and welcome Horsham to Colston Avenue, the Hornets having kept clean sheets in their last three matches and having lost only one of their last seven. A win for the hosts could take them into the top five. The Robins won their August meeting, three one, and have a fine record against the Hornets, Horsham winning only one of their last twelve meetings.

Folkestone Invicta take a three match winning streak to Wingate & Finchley, where they face a blues side who have also been in good form, with only one defeat from their last six. Invicta have closed to within six points of a top five spot, and we’ve no doubt that despite their tribulations this season a top five spot remains their target. Their hosts are three points above the bottom four- eleven points behind their visitors- but have played some fine football of late and won’t be short of confidence. They might, however, have chosen different opponents, as they’ve fallen to defeat the last five times they’ve met the stripes.

Corinthian-Casuals, much improved and with three wins and two defeats from their last five, welcome Haringey Borough- seven points and five places above them. Borough have won only one of their last seven. The last two meetings between the clubs have ended in draws- two-two back in August as Casuals relinquished a two goal lead at Coles Park.

Managerless Margate welcome second bottom Brightlingsea Regent. Regent will be boosted by that win over Bishop’s Stortford, whilst the hosts are in something of a slump, having taken only eight points from their last thirty available. That said, Regent have only six from the same period.

Bottom side Herne Bay welcome Bowers & Pitsea, who are two places and six points above them. Bay are in terrible form, without a league win in almost three months; whilst Bowers are two matches unbeaten and will hope that they’ve turned a corner. One of the three wins for the Essex side this season came against Bay in August.

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