A MESSAGE FROM THE COLD END

Many apologies for not publishing much over the 2024/25 season in the form of match reports and highlights. Much of my focus during the campaign was supporting Enfield Town with my son in their amazing great escape and survival in the Vanarama South Division. 

Since starting the blog/website in 2009 the coverage of non-league football has increased massively with the majority of clubs now producing match highlights across all forms of social media. Hopefully, I'll be able to produce some highlights during the 25/26 season. 

For now, enjoy the summer (lets hope the sunshine we've had continues!!) and see you all again in July for the pre-season. 

THE COLD END 

VANARAMA SOUTH #DROPWATCH - WHICH TEAMS WILL FINISH IN THE BOTTOM FOUR?

POS	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF-GA	GD	PTS	FORM	PP
17.	HAMPTON & RICHMOND	41	13	9	19	51-56	-5	48	LLLLLL	63
18.	SLOUGH TOWN	41	12	12	17	61-67	-6	48	DDLWDL	63
19.	SALISBURY	41	10	14	17	53-60	-7	44	DLDWLW	59
20.	ENFIELD TOWN	41	12	7	22	43-76	-33	43	LWWWDD	58
21.	ST ALBANS CITY	41	8	16	17	42-56	-14	40	DLLWDW	55
22.	WELLING UNITED	41	10	6	25	45-76	-31	36	DLLLWL	51
23.	WEYMOUTH	41	6	13	22	36-62	-23	31	DDLWLW	46
R	AVELEY	41	6	7	28	40-74	-34	25	DLLLDL	40

DATE	HAMPTON	STFC	SALISBURY	ETFC	STFC	WELLING	WEYMOUTH	AVELEY
5th	BATH CITY	AVELEY	Boreham Wood	Hemel	DORKING	HORNCHURCH	Eastbourne	Slough
12th	WELLING	Torquay	AVELEY	Chelmsford	EASTBOURNE	Hampton	Maidstone	Salisbury
18th	Dorking	BOREHAM WOOD	Weymouth	ST ALBANS	Enfield Town	MAIDSTONE	SALISBURY	CHELMSFORD
21st	FARNBOURGH	Chesham	EASTBOURNE	Boreham Wood	HEMEL	Chelmsford	Torquay	Hornchurch
26th	Slough	HAMPTON	Welling	WORTHING	Truro City	SALISBURY	CHELMSFORD	BATH CITY

Saturday saw AVELEY confirmed as the first team to be relegated from The Vanarama South for the 24/25 season. The Millers finished in 7th place last season and qualified from the play-offs which was an amazing achievement but sadly after a two season stay at Step Two of the non-league pyramid the Essex club will return to the Isthmian Premier Division for the 25/26 campaign. They will also have a new Manager as Danny Scopes will leave the club at the end of the season. He took the club from the Isthmian North to The Vanarama South in his time where he has been in charge since October 2021. 

WEYMOUTH are teetering on the brink and probably need to win all five of their remaining games and rely on other teams above them losing - they have two very tough away games coming up against title/play-off contender's Eastbourne Borough and Maidstone United. It could a case of by the time they host Salisbury on Good Friday their relegation could be confirmed. 

WELLING UNITED under the Caretaker management of Brian Statham still have a chance and certainly proved they can mix it with the best of the division with a 2-0 win over table topper's Worthing in their last home. Unfortunately this was followed up with a 4-1 defeat on the road at Chesham United. They have a busy week coming up with The Kent Senior Cup Final against Ebbsfleet United on Wednesday at Gillingham followed by their home league games against Hornchurch on Saturday. They then host Brentford 'B' on Tuesday in the Quarter-Final of The London Senior Cup.

ST ALBANS CITY and ENFIELD TOWN then follow in the table. The Saints are unbeaten in three league games beating Hampton & Richmond and Farnborough along with a draw against Hornchurch all at home. Their run games at Clarence Park will continue with two extremely tough fixtures at home to title challenger's Dorking Wanderers and Eastbourne Borough before a the biggest game of the season for both clubs on Good Friday when a huge crowd is expected for the local derby clash at The Dave Bryant Stadium. The Town, unbeaten in five league games, travel to Hemel Hempstead Town and Chelmsford City in their next two fixtures. 

SALISBURY's wins in their last two home games have boosted their survival hopes no end - they travel to Boreham Wood on Saturday who have lost their last three games in a row and need a win to keep in the play-off zone! 

SLOUGH TOWN and HAMPTON & RICHMOND BOROUGH probably have enough points to stay up but could probably do with one more point to have 49 points as their goal difference is much better than the current bottom five. 

VANARAMA NATIONAL SOUTH - UPDATE

POS	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF-GA	GD	PTS	FORM	PP
1.	DORKING WANDERERS	34	19	8	7	68-41	+27	65	WWDWWW	101
2.	EASTBOURNE BOROUGH	34	17	10	7	45-34	+11	61	WWLWLW	97
3.	TORQUAY UNITED	32	16	11	5	48-30	+18	59	DLLWDW	101
4.	WORTHING	31	17	8	6	48-42	+6	59	WWWWDL	104
5.	BOREHAM WOOD	32	17	7	8	58-32	+26	58	LLWLLW	100
6.	TRURO CITY	32	16	9	7	45-29	+16	57	WLDWDW	99
7.	MAIDSTONE UNITED	32	16	9	7	46-28	+18	56	LDWLLD	98
8.	WESTON-SUPER-MARE	33	15	9	9	48-40	+8	54	LWDWLW	93

TITLE ODDS

(AVAILABLE AT BETVICTOR.COM)

DORKING WANDERERS 2/1 

WORTHNING 5/2 

BOREHAM WOOD 3/1 

TORQUAY UNITED 6/1

EASTBOURNE BOROUGH 6/1 

TRURO CITY 14/1 

MAIDSTONE UNITED 20/1

WESTON-SUPER-MARE 33/1

POS	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF-GA	GD	PTS	FORM	PP
17.	HORNCHURCH	31	10	10	11	35-35	0	40	LDDWWL	85
18.	BATH CITY	32	10	7	15	29-36	-7	37	DDWLWL	79
19.	SALISBURY	32	8	12	12	39-44	-5	36	DDLWLD	78
20.	ENFIELD TOWN	33	9	5	19	34-64	-30	32	DWWWWL	71
21.	WELLING UTD	33	9	4	20	35-60	-25	31	LWLDLL	70
22.	ST ALBANS CITY	32	5	13	14	31-46	-15	28	DDDWWL	70
23.	AVELEY	32	6	5	21	34-56	-22	23	WLLLWL	65
24.	WEYMOUTH	33	3	10	20	34-52	-28	19	DLWLLL	58

TOP SCORERS

KWESI APPIAH (BOREHAM WOOD) - 22 

GEORGE ALEXANDER (EATBOURNE BOROUGH) - 15

TYLER HARVEY (TRURO CITY) - 15 

SAM YOUNGS (ENFIELD TOWN) - 15 

ALFIE RUTHERFORD (DORKING WANDERERS) - 14 

AARON BLAIR (MAIDSTONE UNITED) - 13 

LUKE COULSON (WESTON-SUPER-MARE) - 13 

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

Saturday 22nd February

Chelmsford City v Torquay United 

Chippenham Town v Welling United 

Dorking Wanderers v Farnborough 

Eastbourne Borough v Hemel Hempstead Town 

Enfield Town v Tonbridge Angels 

Hornchurch v Chesham United 

Maidstone United v Bath City 

St Albans City v Boreham Wood 

Truro City v Slough Town 

Weston-super-Mare v Hampton & Richmond Borough 

Weymouth v Aveley 

Worthing v Salisbury 

Tuesday 25th February

Boreham Wood v Chelmsford City 

Eastbourne Borough v Maidstone United 

Hampton & Richmond Borough v Chesham United 

Hornchurch v Enfield Town 

Salisbury v Bath City 

Slough Town v Chippenham Town 

St Albans City v Aveley 

Tonbridge Angels v Welling United 

Truro City v Weymouth 

Weston-super-Mare v Torquay United 

Worthing v Farnborough 

Saturday 1st March

Aveley v Hampton & Richmond Borough 

Bath City v Eastbourne Borough 

Chelmsford City v Worthing 

Chesham United v Truro City 

Chippenham Town v St Albans City 

Enfield Town v Dorking Wanderers 

Farnborough v Weston-super-Mare 

Hemel Hempstead Town v Tonbridge Angels

Maidstone United v Salisbury 

Torquay United v Boreham Wood 

Welling United v Slough Town 

Weymouth v Hornchurch 

Monday 3rd March 

Aveley v Salisbury 

Tuesday 4th March 

Chippenham Town v Torquay United 

Farnborough v Hornchurch

Truro City v Boreham Wood 

Worthing v Bath City 

Saturday 8th March

Boreham Wood v Aveley

Dorking Wanderers v Chelmsford City 

Eastbourne Borough v Chippenham Town 

Hampton & Richmond Borough v Hemel Hempstead Town 

Hornchurch v Maidstone United 

Salisbury v Enfield Town 

Slough Town v Farnborough 

St Albans City v Weymouth 

Tonbridge Angels v Torquay United 

Truro City v Welling United 

Weston-super-Mare v Bath City 

Worthing v Chesham United 

Monday 10th March 

Aveley v Worthing  

Chelmsford City v St Albans City 

Hemel Hempstead Town v Hornchurch 

Tuesday 11th March 

Bath City v Slough Town

Chesham United v Tonbridge Angels 

Chippenham Town v Truro City

Enfield Town v Hampton & Richmond Borough 

Farnborough v Boreham Wood 

Maidstone United v Dorking Wanderers

Torquay United v Salisbury 

Weymouth v Weston-super-Mare 

Saturday 15th March 

Aveley v Eastbourne Borough 

Bath City v Tonbridge Angels 

Chelmsford City v Weston-super-Mare 

Chesham United v St Albans City 

Dorking Wanderers v Torquay United 

Enfield Town v Truro City 

Farnborough v Welling United 

Hornchurch v Slough Town 

Maidstone United v Chippenham Town 

Salisbury v Hampton & Richmond Borough 

Weymouth v Boreham Wood 

Worthing v Hemel Hempstead Town 

Tuesday 18th March 

St Albans City v Hampton & Richmond Borough 

Welling United v Hemel Hempstead Town 

Saturday 22nd March 

Boreham Wood v Dorking Wanderers 

Chippenham Town v Weymouth

Eastbourne Borough v Farnborough 

Hampton & Richmond Borough v Maidstone United 

Hemel Hempstead Town v Aveley 

Slough Town v Enfield Town

St Albans City v Hornchurch 

Tonbridge Angels v Chelmsford City 

Torquay United v Bath City

Truro City v Salisbury 

Welling United v Worthing 

Weston-super-Mare v Chesham United

Tuesday 25th March 

Hornchurch v Worthing 

Saturday 29th March

Aveley v Torquay United 

Bath City v Hemel Hempstead Town

Chelmsford City v Truro City 

Chesham United v Welling United 

Dorking Wanderers v Eastbourne Borough 

Enfield Town v Chippenham Town 

Hornchurch v Weston-super-Mare 

Maidstone United v Boreham Wood 

Salisbury v Tonbridge Angels 

St Albans City v Farnborough 

Weymouth v Slough Town 

Worthing v Hampton & Richmond Borough

SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS DIVISION ONE - HUGE GAME AT THE WEEKEND AS THE ROMANS VISIT THE ROMANS

POS	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS	PP	FORM
1.	IRCHESTER UTD	26	16	6	4	66	31	+35	54	90	WWLWDL
2.	MOULTON	24	17	3	4	64	36	+28	54	96	WWLWWW
3.	AFC WELWYN	22	16	4	2	52	17	+35	52	100	WWWWWW
4.	EATON SOCON	24	15	4	5	55	34	+21	49	91	WLWDDW
5.	DESBOROUGH TOWN	19	15	2	2	73	19	+54	47	104	WLWWWW
6.	AMPTHILL TOWN	22	12	6	4	31	20	+11	42	90	DWLDLW
7.	WELLINGBOROUGH WHI	22	12	2	8	47	39	+8	38	86	WWWWWD
8.	STOTFOLD RESERVES	24	11	4	9	49	46	+3	37	79	WLLWDL
9.	CRANFIELD UTD	21	10	3	8	36	25	+11	33	84	DLWLLD
10.	LETCHWORTH GC EAG	25	10	3	12	50	57	-7	33	72	LDLWDD

AN ALL ROMAN AFFAIR THIS WEEKEND!

There is a huge game in the Spartan South Midlands League Division One this weekend as AFC Welwyn travel to Irchester United in a 1st v 3rd clash. The table toppers lost another top of the table game on Tuesday evening when Moulton beat them 2-1 in front of 117 people at Brunton Road. 

AFC Welwyn are on an unbeaten run of eight league games and won 2-0 at home to Royston Town Reserves in their last league game. 

Desborough Town have 19 games to play between now and the end of the regular season which is on Saturday 19th April - they also have to travel to AFC Welwyn in the Division One Cup Semi-Final. 

SATURDAY 8th FEBRUARY FIXTURES

Buckingham v Rushden & Higham United 

Desborough Town v Huntingdon Town 

Irchester United v AFC Welwyn 

Leighton Town Reserves v Cranfield United 

London Colney v Ampthill Town 

Long Buckby v Eaton Socon

Moulton v Letchworth Garden City Eagles 

Royston Town Reserves v Raunds Town 

Wellingborough Whitworth v Langford

VANARAMA NATIONAL SOUTH - TITLE RACE AND #DROPWATCH UPDATE

The title race for the The Vanarama National League South is looking like it will go right down to the wire as just three points separates the current top six of The Vanarama National League South. This time last season it was eighteen points between runaway leaders Yeovil Town and St Albans City in sixth place. 

Boreham Wood and Worthing, who were both in Izusu FA Trophy action yesterday, are the current favourites with the bookmakers - The Wood have lost their last two league games going down 1-4 at home to Chippenham Town and 2-1 in their big clash with Worthing. 

They have a local derby game tomorrow evening at Hemel Hempstead Town. The Tudors have really picked up form under new Manager Lee Allinson - they have won four, drawn one and lost two since he took over.  They are currently four games unbeaten where they have scored nine and let in just two goals. Oli Lynch, recently signed on loan from Championship side Luton Town has scored three goals with Joe White also scored two - He followed boss Allinson from Isthmian Premier Division Hendon. Kai Brosnan netted in their 1-1 draw at Weston-Super-Mare yesterday is another player to move from The Greens! 

Could it be a difficult night for The Wood? 

CURRENT ODDS

VIA WILLIAM HILL 

Boreham Wood 11/4 

Worthing 10/3 

Dorking Wanderers 4/1 

Maidstone United 7/1 

Eastbourne Borough 7/1 

Torquay United 7/1 

TOP SIX CURRENT FORM

POS	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
1.	WORTHING	6	5	1	0	10	5	+5	16
2.	DORKING WANDERERS	6	5	0	1	12	6	+6	15
3.	EASTBOURNE BOROUGH	6	4	2	0	7	2	+5	14
4.	BOREHAM WOOD	6	4	0	2	13	8	+5	12
5.	MAIDSTONE UNITED	6	3	1	2	7	4	+3	10
6.	TORQUAY UNITED	6	2	2	2	7	6	+1	8

At the bottom of the table there is still a gap between the drop zone and the teams just above - Welling United's 5-1 defeat at Weymouth yesterday will give teams in the bottom four some hope! Three teams in the table are on long runs without a win- Hornchurch have not won for seven games, Farnborough for eight and Slough Town haven't had a win for eleven games. Luckily their form earlier in the season see's them in somewhat comfortable midtable positions. The Urchins are in 17th (ten points above the drop zone), Boro are 14th (fifteen points above) and The Rebels are currently in 15th (thirteen points above).

For me, as an Enfield Town fan, our next two games away at Aveley (23rd) and at home to Welling United (20th) are pivotal in our survival - We live in hope and you just never know! 

BOTTOM SIX CURRENT FORM

POS	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
1.	BATH CITY	6	2	3	1	6	3	+3	9
2.	ENFIELD TOWN	6	2	2	2	6	9	-3	8
3.	ST ALBANS CITY	6	1	4	1	5	5	0	7
4.	WELLING UTD	6	2	0	4	10	14	-4	6
5.	WEYMOUTH	6	1	1	4	8	9	-1	4
6.	AVELEY	6	1	1	4	5	10	-5	4

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

Monday 3rd February

Hemel Hempstead Town v Boreham Wood 

Tuesday 4th February

Bath City v Chelmsford City 

Farnborough v Chesham United 

Hampton & Richmond Borough v Dorking Wanderers 

Hornchurch v Tonbridge Angels 

Saturday 8th February

Aveley v Enfield Town

Bath City v Hornchurch 

Boreham Wood v Weston-super-Mare 

Chesham United v Weymouth 

Farnborough v Chelmsford City 

Hampton & Richmond Borough v Truro City 

Hemel Hempstead Town v Chippenham Town 

Salisbury v Dorking Wanderers 

Slough Town v Maidstone United 

Tonbridge Angels v Worthing 

Torquay United v Eastbourne Borough 

Welling United v St Albans City 

Monday 10th February 

Chelmsford City v Hemel Hempstead Town 

Tuesday 11th February 

Chippenham Town v Chesham United 

Dorking Wanderers v Tonbridge Angels 

Eastbourne Borough v Hampton & Richmond Borough

Enfield Town v Welling United

Hornchurch v Boreham Wood 

Maidstone United v Aveley 

St Albans City v Slough Town 

Truro City v Farnborough 

Weston-super-Mare v Salisbury 

Weymouth v Bath City 

Worthing v Torquay United 

Saturday 15th February

Aveley v Weston-super-Mare

Bath City v St Albans City 

Boreham Wood v Eastbourne Borough 

Chesham United v Enfield Town 

Farnborough v Weymouth 

Hampton & Richmond Borough v Chippenham Town 

Hemel Hempstead Town v Maidstone United 

Salisbury v Chelmsford City 

Slough Town v Worthing 

Tonbridge Angels v Truro City 

Torquay United v Hornchurch 

Welling United v Dorking Wanderers

ISUZU FA VASE UPDATE

ISUZU FA VASE FIFTH ROUND

to be played on Saturday 1st February 

AFC Whyteleafe v Egham Town

Atherton LR v Bourne Town

Erith & Belvedere v Daventry Town

Heanor Town v Crook Town 

North Shields v Whitchurch Alport

Roman Glass St George v AFC Stoneham

VCD Athletic v Hartpury University 

Whitstable Town v Fleet Town

LEAGUES LEFT REPRESENTED

STEP FIVE 

COMBINED COUNTIES PREMIER NORTH (1)

EGHAM TOWN 

COMBINED COUNTIES PREMIER SOUTH (2) 

AFC WHYTELEAFE 

FLEET TOWN 

HELLENIC LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (2)

HARTPURY UNIVERSITY 

ROMAN GLASS ST GEORGE 

MIDLAND LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (1)

WHITCHURCH ALPORT 

NORTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (2) 

CROOK TOWN 

NORTH SHIELDS 

SOUTHERN COUNTIES EAST PREMIER DIVISION (3) 

ERITH & BELVEDERE 

VCD ATHLETIC 

WHITSTABLE TOWN 

UNITED COUNTIES PREMIER DIVISION NORTH (2) 

BOURNE TOWN

HEANOR TOWN 

UNITED COUNTIES PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH (1) 

DAVENTRY TOWN  

WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (1) 

AFC STONEHAM 

STEP SIX

NORTH WEST COUNTIES EAST D1 NORTH (1) 

ATHERTON LR  

Atherton Laburnum Rovers are the only Step Six left in the competition and there will be many fans at Crilly Park with memories of the 93/94 season where they got to the Semi-Final stage beating Prudhoe East End, Penrith, Thackley (after a replay), Bridgnorth Town and Aldershot Town after two replays. The score against Diss Town after two legs of the semi-final was 3-3 so a replay was played at VS Rugby with the Norfolk side narrowly winning 1-2. 

THE RAMS OR THE BRICKIES - WHO WILL WIN THE PITCHING IN ISTHMIAN SOUTH-EAST TITLE?

Sittingbourne and Ramsgate are both having highly impressive seasons in The Pitching In Isthmian South-East Division. The Rams have gone so close to promotion in the last two campaigns finishing as runner's up. In 22/23 they were pipped to the title by Chatham Town who finished seven points ahead of them and they then were knocked out by Hythe Town on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the play-off semi-final. Last season saw Cray Valley PM topped the table by six points and The Rams were knocked out by Chichester City at the semi-final stage again - The West Sussex side recorded a shock 0-1 victory as they had finished twenty points behind their opponents in the league table. 

Manager Ben Smith left the club over the summer and was replaced by former Lewes boss Tony Russell who left the club after just 25 days without a game being played. Smith returned to the club at first on an interim basis and is now back in the hot-seat assisted by the highly experienced Joe Ellul in a player/assistant manager role.  

Former Braintree Town and Walthamstow boss Ryan Maxwell took over as Sittingbourne boss in January 2023 and has recently committed his future to the club signing a two and a half year contract extension which runs to the end of the 26/27 campaign. 

After 25 games played it's The Rams who lead the way on 68 points with twenty-two wins, just one defeat and two draws. Their only defeat came at East Grinstead Town with draws at home to Burgess Hill Town and at local rival's Margate in front of 2,500 people at Hartsdown Park on Boxing Day! 

After their 3-0 win over East Grinstead Town tonight The Brickies are on 66 points with just one defeat and three draws. Crucially their only defeat came at Ramsgate on the second day of the season who won 4-2 with draws coming against Beckenham Town, Sevenoaks Town and Ashford United. 

Margate are in third place (12 points behind The Brickies) but could still have a huge say in the title race as they are still to play Sittingbourne home and away in February and at Ramsgate on Bank Holiday Monday 21st April. 

THE FINAL GAME ON THE LEAGUE SEASON COMES ON SATURDAY 26th APRIL WHEN SITTINGBOURNE HOST RAMSGATE - COULD THIS BE THE TITLE DECIDER? 

Ryan Maxwell's side are still on The Road To Wembley in the Isuzu FA Trophy having beaten Sutton Common Rovers, Kingstonian, Bognor Regis Town, Dover Athletic, Winchester City, Enfield Town and Salisbury. They travel to Vanarama National League Southend United in an eagerly anticipated Fifth Round tie on Saturday 1st February. 

One thing everyone behind the scenes at Sittingbourne will be working hard to improve in their attendances. The town has a population of just over 50,000 but their league average this season is currently 318 which drops to 268 when we exclude the 826 crowd against Sheppey United on Boxing Day. The figure agianst The Ites shows there is potential as 706 saw their last FA Trophy tie at home to Salisbury. Ramsgate's current league average is 886 which is an amazing improvement as the club averaged between 100 and 200 just a few seasons ago - take a look back to Tuesday 16th September 2014 when 74 people saw their Ryman Division One South game against Walton & Hersham. 

This weekend The Rams are on the road to mid-table Erith Town and Sittingbourne travel to sixteenth placed AFC Croydon Athletic. Third placed Margate host relegation threatened Phoenix Sports. 

Ben Smith has added to his already impressive squad today with the signing of forward Jefferson Aibangbee from Sevenoaks Town - He has scored 17 goals in all competitions for The Oaks so far this season. He has also previously played for Faversham Town and Sheppey United. 

TABLE COURTESY OF FOOTBALLWEBPAGES.CO.UK