Welcome to Football Tuesday

The Premier Division has a big match between the Rocks and the Urchins- an Essex derby at Rookery Hill. East Thurrock United have fallen ten points off the playoff places, but they do have three or even four matches in hand over all of the sides in the top five, so won’t have given up just yet. They have, however, lost three of their last four so really need to start getting back to winning ways- and what better way to do it than by defeating your local rivals.

Hornchurch will want to make sure that doesn’t happen. The Urchins are in third place, nine points behind Worthing, and won their first match in four- the previous three were draws- against Bishop’s Stortford at the weekend. Victory tonight will put them in second place as they have a better goal difference that Folkestone Invicta, who are in county cup action. nothing whatsoever, as every match has now been postponed. Global warming? It’s more like global drowning.

Potters Bar Town host Haringey Borough, so long as their pitch passes an inspection. The Scholars, in twelfth place, are four points clear of their visitors, and both will be in good spirits after getting back to winning ways at the weekend. MATCH POSTPONED.

North Division

Our big match brings top and bottom together, as Maldon & Tiptree entertain Romford. The Jammers have been in such good form this season it almost defies explanation, and victory will see them go eleven points clear at the top. A match of top v bottom should be easy to predict, but Romford have won their last three fixtures and their much-changed squad finally seems to be building an understanding, so they will head to Park Drive confident that they will be only the second side to inflict defeat on the Jammers this season. Victory for the visitors could see them off the bottom- but it would have to be a fairly significant victory, and that might be a big ask against a defence that has conceded only sixteen goals this season.

Brentwood Town, seven points clear of the relegation place, will be desperate to get back to winning ways as they ‘host’ Cambridge City. The match is being played at Tilbury’s Chadfields, as the pitch at the Brentwood Arena remains unplayable. Town had won two consecutive matches but came down with a bump against Felixstowe at the weekend, whilst City have won their last two and will be in no mood to help their hosts out.

South Central

Bottom side Northwood have looked in improved form over recent matches but still haven’t managed to take as much as a point from them, and have now lost ten in a row. Their visitors, Marlow, have only lost two of their last ten and are unbeaten in five, their best form of the season seeing them take thirteen points from their last fifteen- and begin to look like the side that was so dominant in the previous campaign. A point would lift the hosts from the basement.

South East

Burgess Hill Town entertain high-flying Whyteleafe, if the match passes a pitch inspection. The Hillians saw a run of two victories brought to an end by Cray Valley PM at the weekend, whilst their opponents have won three in a row and could move into the top five with victory. The last time the two met they delivered a seven goal thriller, with Leafe the narrow victors.

We have another pitch inspection to see whether Chichester City can host Herne Bay. This is an intriguing match between seventh and fifth, City having won five of their last six, their only defeat coming at…Herne Bay. The visitors got back to winning ways against Three Bridges on Saturday after two inconsistent performances, and will want to pick up three points as they have Whyteleafe breathing down their necks. MATCHES POSTPONED.

Haywards Heath Town host Faversham Town, and could climb four places with victory. A late goal saw them do the double over Sevenoaks Town at the weekend, indeed they did that double in a week as Oaks were their opponents in their last two matches. Faversham, in contrast, have now gone nine matches without a victory.

Phoenix Sports, who grabbed a late point against Faversham at the weekend, host Sittingbourne- again, subject to the pitch passing inspection. Sports have only one point from their last nine, whilst the Brickies haven’t picked up a win in seven matches and have lost six of them, including the last five. Both could do with three points.

Velocity Trophy

We’ve a Quarter Final tie at the Camping World Community Stadium, as Horsham host Margate. The Hornets have only lost twice at home in the league all season, and the last one of those was a shock heavy defeat to Margate on November 30th, so revenge will be on their minds as well as a Semi-Final place. You never know quite what you’re going to get from Margate, who have drawn their last four league matches.