Will the Trawler Boys frailties continue?

Lowestoft Town have seen their lead at the top cut to three points after losing two of their last three- but the Trawler Boys have games in hand over the chasing pack, and will hope to get back to winning ways as Brightlingsea Regent come to call. Lowestoft have been so good for most of the season that those defeats- against Bury Town and Gorleston- came as something of a surprise, and Regent will be boosted by the fact that the Trawler Boys have lost more on their own patch than on the road, but in truth Regent have contracted a consistency problem of their very own. They’ve lost their last two, and indeed have won five and lost five of their last ten, a run which has seen them drop out of the top five- they come into the weekend in seventh, albeit only two points away from fifth place.

Second place Felixstowe and Walton United could mathematically go top this weekend were they to win and Lowestoft to lose, but those maths are rather outlandish given that the Trawler Boys goal difference is twelve goals better. That said, the Seasiders will have been delighted to get back to winning ways against bottom side Stowmarket Town on New Years Day, but will know that they need to improve- that was only their fourth win in ten. They have a tricky trip on the horizon, as they head to Brentwood Town, who have only one defeat from their last nine matches and hit Ipswich Wanderers for six last time out. Town have been better on the road than on their own patch, taking more than double the number of points away from home than at the Arena, but victory could well see them finish the weekend in the top five, so they most certainly have a good incentive to give their fans something to shout about. History is against them, however- they haven’t defeated the Seasiders in eight attempts, their last victory coming in December 2018.

Third place Bowers and Pitsea welcome Witham Town. Bowers are on the march, with six wins from seven, whilst Town have delivered some fine results of late, victory at Brightlingsea on Monday the latest of those, and won’t be at all afraid of making the journey to the Len Salmon.

Heybridge Swifts are on a seven match unbeaten run, and will be full of confidence as Enfield come to call. Swifts have been consistent, winning the same number of matches away from home as they have on their own patch, whilst Enfield are not good travellers, taking only four points from twenty seven when they leave their R&D Advisors Stadium. The E’s have lost eight of their last nine fixtures, and find themselves in seventeenth place.

Maldon & Tiptree will be focused on the top five as they head to Ipswich Wanderers. The Jammers start the day in eighth place but are only three points away from the top five, and with only two defeats from ten matches have become one of our form sides- only the leaders have a better ten match record. Wanderers, in contrast, are having a torrid time of late, and have lost their last seven matches- their last victory coming more than two months ago.

Bury Town travel to New Salamis on Sunday, taking with them the warm glow of winning our Performance of the Month Award for their victory over Lowestoft last month. Town have been in fine form, six unbeaten, a run that includes five wins, whilst their Coles Park hosts are also on the up, with only one defeat from their last four. Both matches between the sides last season ended level.

Walthamstow have slipped to tenth place, but have games in hand over all of the sides above them. They welcome Wroxham, the Yachtsmen four places and eight points worse off. Stow looked to have turned around their inconsistent form with two wins before succumbing to a thumping at Maldon last Saturday, whilst Wroxham have gone five without a win and have only one victory on the road all season.

Gorleston, who must be contenders for January’s Performance of the Month Award after that victory over Lowestoft Town on New Years Day, are back in Great Yarmouth and welcome bottom side Stowmarket Town. That New Years Day win was the Greens first in six matches, but we suspect they’d prefer us to mention that they are three unbeaten, so that’s what we’ll do! Stow, in contrast, are nine points from safety and still looking for that first win of the season, but it’s only fair to point out that- a hammering against the leaders apart- they’ve looked much improved of late. Last season Stow took four points from six from the Greens- but both sides are much changed since then.

Fifteenth place Redbridge welcome the side three places and five points behind them, Grays Athletic. The Motormen haven’t managed a game since December 16th, when they defeated Witham Town two-nil to end a four match losing streak. Athletic, in contrast, have played three matches over the festive season and lost them all, and will be desperate to start picking up some points.

Note to all clubs- please upload any goal of the month contenders as soon as you can, to the address we sent you!

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