Yellows and Tags face tough matches- who will be top on Saturday evening?

AFC Sudbury were briefly removed from the top of Pitching In Isthmian North in midweek, and they’ll want to make sure that doesn’t happen again as they welcome fifth place Heybridge Swifts. The Yellows only have a one point lead over Hashtag United and can’t afford any slip ups, but they will be reminded that Swifts were the first side to defeat them in the league this season, three-two at Scraley Road on November 15th. Sudbury have lost only once since, whilst Swifts have seen a number of players come and go since then and perhaps their recent run of two wins from six is as a consequence.

Hashtag United face a tough match at New Salamis. The Tags have won their last FIFTEEN matches, a rather incredible record, and defeated Salamis three-one at the Len Salmon in November- but their hosts are in good form and indeed are having a fine first Isthmian season, and should be no pushovers. If the Tags better the Sudbury result they will hit the summit.

Seventeen points separate the top two and third place Lowestoft Town. The Trawler Boys are off to Essex to face Tilbury, the Dockers desperate for points as they attempt to climb away from the lower reaches of the table, finding themselves only a point above the bottom four. Town have seen a long winning streak come to an end, taking only one point from their last two matches, whilst the Dockers have only one win in ten.

With only three points between fourth and seventh the chase for the Play Off places is almost as enthralling as the title battle, and fourth place felixstowe and Walton United travel to Maldon & Tiptree hoping to hold onto their narrow advantage. The Seasiders have been super at home, but rather less super away, whilst the Jammers have won more matches on the road than on their own patch. Felixstowe lost narrowly to the leaders in midweek, whilst the Jam has gone a little stale of late, with only one win from six.

Stowmarket Town, in sixth, are on the road to Witham Town. Stow have lost only one of their last five matches but are three without a win, and so tight is it in the race for the play off places that this form has seen them drop out of the top five. Witham, meanwhile, are two points above the bottom four and have won only one- and lost eight- of their last ten. The match at Stow in November ended two-nil to the hosts, but such has been the change at Stow since then that neither goalscorer is now with the club.

Second bottom Gorleston are the hosts for Grays Athletic. The visitors are only three points away from the top five but worryingly haven’t managed a win or a goal in their last four appearances, whilst the Greens were twice ahead at Stowmarket in midweek before being forced to accept a point. Four points from safety, they need the points at least as much as their visitors.

East Thurrock United and Bury Town have slipped eleven and ten points respectively away from the top five, and both need a win as they meet at Rookery Hill tomorrow. The Rocks seem to be heading towards a revival after a spell of poor form, three unbeaten, whilst the Ram Meadow side are five unbeaten but have three goalless draws from their last three.

Wroxham are at home to Hullbridge Sports. The Yachtsmen have been in fine form, five unbeaten and with only two defeats- against our top two- from their last ten matches. Sports, in contrast, have lost seven of their last eight, a run which has left them in the bottom four, albeit only one point from safety.

Coggeshall Town, much improved in recent weeks, welcome one of their relegation rivals, Great Wakering Rovers. The Seed Growers are five unbeaten and have won three of them, and another win could even see them climb out of the bottom four for the first time since September 20th. Rovers, in contrast, have been in freefall- although they did get a point against Basildon United in midweek. Our bottom place side are without a win since defeating the Seed Growers on October 8th- and indeed have taken only three points since then.

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