Will it be the Wands or the Rooks?

Only two of our matches are absolutely critical, so we shall start our preview with them.

Haringey Borough welcome Cray Wanderers, and are very welcoming indeed, with free entry for all.

The game will be crucial for the visitors. It's a game they can't afford to lose with Lewes only two points behind them in the race for a play off place, and a draw would also leave them in some danger, as it means they might have to rely on goal difference. That said, they are undefeated in eight matches and have won seven of them, so their form couldn't be better! For away fans, not only will they benefit from free entry, but their club is running a free coach.

Wands won the last meeting between the sides, on December 11th, by five goals to one, and tend to have a good record against their hosts at Coles Park, too; indeed their only defeat at Coles Park was in an FA Cup match in October 2019, a Dimitri Froxylias penalty the difference between the sides.

Lewes are on the road to Canvey Island, knowing that they must win and hope that Haringey Borough do them a favour. The Gulls, despite being already confirmed as play off qualifiers, still have their eyes on second place, and will want to win and hope that Hornchurch run into difficulties at Kingstonian. They are in fine form, thirteen games unbeaten, and defeated the Rooks at the Dripping Plan a month ago. That defeat to Canvey is the only one Lewes have suffered in eleven matches, but they are relying on events at Coles Park to go their way if they are to have any chance of a top five finish- and they are aware of Borough’s occasional frailties, having defeated them four-nil last weekend.

Our Champions, Bishop’s Stortford, travel to Herne Bay for their last match of the season with congratulations ringing in their ears. Canvey Island’s failure to defeat Aveley in midweek meant that the Blues return to Step Two for the first time since 2017. Their hosts are already confirmed as relegated, and have already lost twice to Stortford this season. Can they end on a high and spoil the Stortford party?

Second place Hornchurch will want to win at Kingstonian to ensure that they hold onto that second place- and have home advantage all the way to the final, should they reach it. The K’s are safe and will end the season in eighteenth, and lost three-nil to the Urchins last month.

Aveley secured their play off place in midweek, but will want to ensure that they hold on to fourth place as they travel to Enfield Town. The Towners will be disappointed with how their season has ended, as they’ve spent thirty matchdays in the top five this season yet find themselves with no chance of a play off place on the final day after being winless for three matches.

Horsham welcome bottom side Brightlingsea Regent, the Hornets having lost only two of their last ten, Regent triumphing for the first time in seventeen matches last time out. Horsham defeated Regent as recently as February 28th, goals from Charlie Hester-Cook and Harvey Sparks doing the damage.

Hastings United end their first Pitching In Isthmian Premier campaign for ten years with a trip to relegated Bowers & Pitsea- although Bowers will be buoyant after winning the Essex Thames-Side Trophy in midweek. United are five unbeaten in the league, whilst Bowers have lost their last three- and lost two-nil at Pilot Field in February.

Relegated Corinthian-Casuals play host to Billericay Town, the visitors ending the season strongly with only two defeats from ten matches; whilst Carshalton Athletic host Steve McKimm’s last match in the Robins hot seat as Wingate & Finchley come to call.

We’ve a seaside special as Sussex Senior Cup Finalists Bognor Regis Town welcome Folkestone Invicta, whilst Kent Senior Cup Finalists Margate welcome Potters Bar Town to Hartsdown Park.

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