Will the Jammers finally be defeated? And will free Blues and free booze attract a bumper crowd?

Maldon & Tiptree, three points clear at the top with three matches in hand, are having a remarkable season by anyone’s standards. Saturday’s game will be their thirty-fifth match of the season, yet only their fifteenth in the league- so there is an awful long way to go, but so far the only side able to take points from them have been Histon, and they only got one.

Can they go the whole season unbeaten? It seems unlikely as they don’t have a squad of fifty, but tomorrow another in-form side will do the best they can to be the first to inflict defeat on the Jammers, as the leaders travel to Great Wakering Rovers.

Rovers currently sit in fifth place, six points behind their visitors, but were impressive in walloping Dereham Town last weekend and have ten points from their last twelve, with additional wins over Cambridge City and Hullbridge Sports and a goalless draw with Coggeshall Town, twelve goals scored and four conceded.

Second placed Aveley are at Hornchurch in the FA Trophy- see our Premier Division preview for details of that one- so could be leapfrogged by Bury Town, who play in our match of the day at fourth place Heybridge Swifts. Swifts could also go second with victory, so there is a great deal at stake. The hosts will be looking to bounce back from a heavy defeat at Tilbury in midweek, whilst Town also lost last time out, against Canvey Island.

Coggeshall Town, in sixth place, could go as high as third with victory at Basildon United- indeed they could go second if they could win sixteen-nil, but that’s rather unlikely! They did get five in midweek, however, against Histon, whilst at the same time the Bees two match unbeaten run came to an end as they crashed to a three-nil defeat against Dereham Town.

Seventh place Tilbury will be full of confidence as they travel to AFC Sudbury. As well as that thumping of Heybridge in midweek, the Dockers are six games unbeaten, and indeed have lost only one of their last ten. The opposing yellows are also in good form, with only one defeat in six, and they thumped Histon five-nil last time out.

Canvey Island have climbed up the table to eight place courtesy of some fine recent form. The Gulls, who have beaten Bury Town and Soham Town Rangers in their last two matches, host the Magpies, Dereham undoubtedly heartened by their fine performance at Basildon in midweek which saw them get back to form after five matches without a win.

Brentwood Town have announced an attractive offer for their home match with Histon. Not only can you get in for free, but they'll even give you a free drink upon arrival!
The home side will be full of confidence after recording a three-nil win at Witham Town on Tuesday evening, whilst Histon will be desperate to get their playoff push back on track after taking only one point from their last nine and conceding thirteen goals.

Grays Athletic, who have slipped down the table to eleventh place, will want to get themselves back on track as they travel to Witham Town. After a good run which saw them take seven points from nine, the hosts have taken only one point from their last nine; whilst Athletic have lost their last three matches and conceded thirteen goals in doing so.

Cambridge City host Romford. City are desperate for an upturn in fortunes, as they have lost five of their last six matches, including the last three. We’ve no idea which kind of Romford side will turn up, given they seem to be signing players as if they believe there’s going to be a shortage due to Brexit, but Glenn Tamplin’s side have strengthened substantially since their six-nil defeat at Aveley on the last Saturday of 2019, which was their most recent match.

Finally, Soham Town Rangers will host Hullbridge Sports. The home side only have one win from their last ten matches, and didn’t help themselves in midweek by having two players sent off whilst a goal up against Canvey island, eventually going on to lose the game. Sports, conversely, have turned around some patchy form to win two of their last three, and defeated Canvey three-nil last time out- but they haven’t managed to play a match so far this year, so will hope not to be a little rusty after a fortnight without a game.