Worthing and Invicta open up a gap- can they be caught?

Saturday October 5th was the last time that Worthing suffered league defeat. Since then they’ve been in imperious form, marching to the top of the Premier Division, scoring goals for fun, and recently keeping clean sheets too- their last six league matches have seen them concede one goal (Merstham scored it, but they conceded six). This weekend they have a potentially difficult challenge as they travel to Colston Avenue to take on Carshalton Athletic. The Robins are in sixth place, but have faltered a little of late, with only one point from their last six. They’ve only lost twice at home- but the Mackerel Men can do even better, with only one away defeat.

Invicta, two points behind, know that victory could take them back to the top if Worthing fail to win. They also have a potential banana skin, as they travel to face East Thurrock United. The Rocks are six matches unbeaten, three wins and three draws, and are only three points off the playoff places so this is a crucial match for both sides. When they met at the BuildKent Stadium back in October Invicta ran out four-one winners, so there will also be a wish for revenge as the stripes run out at Rookery Hill.

Our match of the day sees third play fourth as Cray Wanderers host Horsham. Wands have rediscovered their form and are unbeaten in six matches- with four wins; whilst the Hornets have become rather inconsistent, winning only four of their last ten. With only three points separating third and seventh, this is a match that neither can afford to lose- nor can they afford to let the gap between themselves and the top two get any larger if they still entertain thoughts of automatic promotion.

Fifth hosts seventh as Hornchurch take on Enfield Town. The Urchins lost their first match in ten last time out as they fell to defeat against Folkestone Invicta, but that defeat isn’t what has stopped them from being further up the table, that has been their regular inability to turn one point into three. They’ve drawn five of their last ten matches. Enfield will be buoyant after their three-nil win at Margate in midweek, and also know that victory could take them as high as fourth.

Four points off the playoff spots, Bognor Regis Town, in ninth, host eleventh place Kingstonian. The K’s are nine points behind the Rocks, but have three matches in hand, and won’t yet have given up on their playoff aspirations. Bognor have got back on track with ten points from their last twelve, whilst the K’s have only one defeat from their last ten. Bognor won their previous meeting by a goal to nil.

Tenth place Leatherhead travel to Cheshunt, who start the day in eighteenth place but only three points above the bottom two. The Tanners have slipped of late, with only one win from their last five, whilst the Ambers have won two matches during the same period but none of their last three- although their two defeats did come against Worthing and Enfield Town.

Potters Bar Town strengthened their squad this week- you can read about that on the transfers page- and travel to face a side who did the same, Brightlingsea Regent. Regent are only one point above the bottom two, but defeated Bishop’s Stortford in midweek and have only lost one of their last five. The Scholars have lost four of their last six- but won the two in the middle, and will hope to find their form again; perhaps the kind of form which saw them defeat Regent four-two at the Pakex in early December.

Margate travel to Merstham. Gate have been a great enigma this season, either fabulous or awful. They’ve managed both in the last seven days, defeating Haringey Borough four-two before losing three-nil to Enfield Town. The Moatsiders put a string of defeats behind them with a win over Horsham and a draw with Leatherhead in their last two, and are currently one point above the bottom two.

Fourteenth plays fifteenth as Haringey Borough host Bowers and Pitsea. Borough have only two wins from ten, and saw three points turn to one as Carshalton Athletic came from two goals down to snatch a draw in the last twelve minutes at Coles Park on Monday. Bowers have climbed the table of late but are yet to find consistency, with four wins, two draws and four defeats from their last ten. This will be the first meeting of the two this season, but there will be another one ten days later.

Bishop’s Stortford, in sixteenth, host bottom side Wingate & Finchley. The first set of Blues don’t have a win in six matches, whilst the travelling set of Blues last won a league match on Saturday November 9th, and are accordingly five points from safety. Wingate have actually picked up more points on the road than they have on Summers Lane, so perhaps that might give the travelling faithful hope.

Finally, second bottom Corinthian-Casuals host seventeenth place Lewes. Casuals have seen their form improve of late, with three wins a draw and three defeats from their last seven; whilst the Rooks will just be pleased to be on the road as they are far better away from home than at the Dripping Pan. Six of their seven victories this season have come on their travels- indeed their only home victory came against Casuals back in October.