We’ve a four club battle for top spot- whilst the Sparks and Westfield are in Trophy action

FA Trophy

South Park (Reigate) welcome Leighton Town to Whitehall Lane. The Sparks have already won two home matches over the last week, and indeed are on a run of home victories which stretches back seven games, so will be confident of adding to that. Their visitors sit in mid table in Pitching In Southern Division One Central, and have saved most of their best form for Cup competitions, knocking our very own Basildon United and Enfield out of the FA Cup earlier in the season.

Westfield have played some fine football and scored lost of goals of late, winning seven of their last eight matches and scoring twenty three goals in the process. They face the test of Hungerford Town at Woking Park, their visitors three unbeaten in Pitching In Southern Premier South but in inconsistent form prior to that.

South Central

Leaders Raynes Park Vale quickly bounced back from their difficult period at the end of September/start of October to win their next three matches, and will be full of confidence as Ashford Town come to call. You never know quite what you’re going to get from the Tangerines, who have won three and lost three of their last six- but they haven’t yet had much success against sides in the top five, their last two defeats coming against Chertsey Town and Marlow.

Second place Chertsey Town welcome Chipstead. The Curfews have lost only once this season and have won their last four, and will have their eyes on top spot, but they also need to keep their eyes firmly on their opponents as Chipstead are quite capable of causing an upset and in good form, with three wins from their last four- and only three points (and an inferior goal difference) away from a top five spot of their own. The Curfews have only defeated the Chips once in four meetings- but it was their last meeting, back in February.

Southall have been in fine form, and the latest side to try and end their nine match unbeaten run are Corinthian-Casuals. The All have won their last three, but prior to a draw with Hanworth Villa were on a four match winning run so that’s nineteen points from their last twenty one. Casuals have fewer points from their entire campaign than their hosts have gathered from their last three matches, but they were looking to have finally found their South Central feet until defeat at South Park Reigate last time out tripped them up.

Our big match comes from beside the Thames, as fourth place Marlow take on fifth place Leatherhead. Marlow have won four in a row- and indeed seven of their last eight in the League- whilst the Tanners have slipped off the pace a little lately, winning only one of their last three- although they would perhaps point out that they’ve only lost one of their last three, too, but such has been the form of their rivals that this has seen them slip down the table! Both of last season’s meetings delivered away wins, Leatherhead will hope for more of the same.

It’s eighth v tenth as Uxbridge welcome Hanworth Villa in a local derby. After a three match winless run, Uxbridge got back to winning ways against Hartley Wintney last time out; whilst Villa were left feeling disappointed after a late equaliser left them with only a point in a rather frantic four-four draw against Guernsey. Villa have lost only one of their last seven. Both of last seasons meetings between the sides ended level.

Badshot Lea have been in fine form of late. The Baggies have won nine of their last ten in all competitions- and that only defeat came from a penalty shootout! They will be full of confidence as they travel to take on Binfield- not only because the Moles are still without a win this season, but because when the sides met in the Velocity Cup in August the Baggies won six-nil. The last four matches have seen the Moles concede sixteen goals- despite keeping a clean sheet in one of them. Perhaps this might be the day when they finally find their shooting boots?

Hartley Wintney travel to take on Sutton Common Rovers. The visitors have lost their last two, the hosts have lost their last four, both sides will be desperate to put something other than a red splodge in their form table and to add three points. Both sides have played some good football this season, and both will hope to get back to winning ways.

Thatcham Town welcome Northwood, both sides desperate for points. The Kingfishers have lost six of their last seven in the League, a solitary victory over Guernsey the only bright spark in a world of damp squibs; whilst the Woods recent record is even worse, with one point picked up from the last twenty four available- indeed, if we add in cup competitions they have gone eleven matches without a win, a surprise after a strong start- and, of course, after last season’s heroics. The last time the sides met, back in March, the Kingfishers came from behind to snatych victory with two goals in the last eight minutes.

Finally, the side in twentieth take on the side one place above them, as Guernsey welcome Metropolitan Police to the Channel Islands. The Green Lions will be delighted to have ended an eight match losing ruin with a late point in that four-all draw at Hanworth Villa last weekend, whilst their visitors have lost their last three and have only one win all season.

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