With two points between first and sixth, who knows who will be top tomorrow!

Our first- of many- big matches this weekend sees an Essex derby, as leaders Hornchurch take on fourth place Aveley. Only one point separates them- although the Millers have played a whopping four matches more- but neither side have been at their best of late. The Urchins have two defeats from their last four, and were beaten at home by Canvey Island last time out. They’ve had a football-free fortnight of kicking their heels to recover from that; whilst the Millers, due to their 3G pitch, have played three home matches since then- triumphing against Leatherhead in the Velocity Cup and then Hastings United in the league on Monday, and losing narrowly to Cray Wanderers last weekend. When the two sides met at Parkside in November, a Kenny Aileru goal gave the Millers the points.

Second place Cray Wanderers host the Tony Russell derby, as their former boss returns once more with Lewes. Wands have also played four games more than the leaders, but are behind Hornchurch only on goal difference. They’ve lost only one of their last ten matches. The Rooks have won five of their last seven and certainly haven’t given up on narrowing the six point gap between themselves and the play off places, so this one looks as if it could be rather tight- as was the goalless draw between the sides earlier in the season.

Enfield Town are at home for the second time this week as our third place side welcome sixth place Carshalton Athletic. The Towners are in fine form, with two defeats from ten and four wins from their last five; but the Robins have lost only one of their last ten and find themselves in with a shot of top spot. The Towners won their last meeting three-one Sam Youngs and Jake Cass on the scoresheet, and indeed won their two matches against the Robins last season, too.

Bishop’s Stortford, who start the day in fifth, have played one, two or four matches fewer than the sides immediately around them. The Blues are on the road to Tooting, where they face Kingstonian- the K’s struggling with only one win from their last ten matches. The hosts start the day five points above the relegation places- although they nearly made that gap seven in midweek, the last kick of the match saving a point for Wingate & Finchley. The Blues have won the last two meetings between the sides.

Canvey Island will hope to climb back into the top five with victory over Herne Bay. The Gulls are three unbeaten, but haven’t played since that win over Hornchurch on January 14th- whilst Bay have suddenly found form, winning two matches in a row for the first time this season, and will travel to Essex with new-found confidence. The visitors are five points from safety, and were beaten four-one by the Gulls on the Kent coast in November.

Billericay Town, three points away from the top five after their midweek defeat at Enfield Town, are on the road again, this time to Horsham, who have a seven point gap to make up if they want to be involved in the end of season knock out. The Hornets are six matches unbeaten and shouldn’t be ruled out, whilst the Blues also had a six match unbeaten run before that trip to Donkey Lane ruined it. The meeting between the two sides at New Lodge was one of the games of the season (if you are a neutral!), the Blues taking a four goal lead, losing three of them, and then scoring another to triumph five-three.

Folkestone Invicta, our form team at present, have the longest trip of all as they head to Brightlingsea Regent. Invicta have closed to within five points of the top five with a run of sixteen points from their last eighteen, whilst bottom side Regent have shown signs of a revival of late and strengthened with the signing of striker Tom Richardson, back at the club he helped fire to the Premier Division a few years ago. Regent haven’t defeated Invicta in six attempts, and lost three-one on the Kent coast in November.

Hastings United won’t have given up on their promotion aspirations despite losing two of their last three, and will hope to put Monday’s defeat at Aveley behind them as they travel to Haringey Borough. United were in fine form in December but have had an indifferent January, whilst you never know quite what you’re going to get from Borough. Seven points behind their visitors they are the epitome of inconsistency, but perhaps have turned a corner, their narrow defeat at Invicta last time out coming after two victories.

Potters Bar Town have slipped form first to twelfth, having taken only one point from their last six matches. The Scholars are still only six points away from a play off spot- twenty above the relegation places- so their gaze is undoubtedly still directed upwards, but they really need to get back to winning ways quickly if they aren’t to settle for a mid table season. They head to a side who would love a mid table season, fourth bottom Bowers & Pitsea, the hosts four points from safety and with only one win in ten. They have strengthened, however, and did perform well in drawing at Margate in midweek.

Gate, in sixteenth, welcome a side two places and three points behind them, Wingate & Finchley arriving at Hartsdown Park knowing that victory would take them above their hosts. The hosting Blues have really had the blues of late, eight matches without a win, whilst the visiting Blues haven’t been much less blue, with only one win from eight themselves.

Corinthian-Casuals give a Tolworth welcome to Bognor Regis Town, both sides looking for points. The hosts are four points from safety and have lost their last three, whilst the travelling Rocks are also rolling in the wrong direction, seven matches without a win, seven points and five places above their opponents. The Rocks are five unbeaten against Casuals, and indeed the side in pink and brown have only won two of their last ten meetings.

Follow the Pitching In Isthmian League on Instagram. Head here or search for theisthmianleague on your app. We're also on Facebook and Twitter.