Bottom side Carshalton Athletic entertain Hendon (16th) in a game their manager Tommy Williams will be looking to win which could move The Robins out of the drop-zone. Gary McCann has recently added a few new players to his squad with Rouchy Efambe joining on work experience terms from Dagenham and Redbridge. Efambe is 18 years old and is a wide playing forward.
Also joining on loan from another League Two side in Wycombe Wanderers are 18 year old Lee Angol and 17 year old Junior Morias. Midfielder Angol began his career at Tottenham Hotspur and winger Morias began his career at Fulham. Both have made substitute appearances in the football league this season so will be excellent additions to McCann's squad.
All three scored in the 1-3 London Senior Cup win at Combined Counties League side Croydon on Wednesday night. Also making his debut for Hendon in that game was defender Sam Flegg who has joined from Thatcham Town. It'll be very interesting to see how the three young players get on against Carshalton Athletic.
Town (18th) travel to Thurrock (21st) in what is a real relegation six pointer. Since drawing 1-1 at Donkey Lane in December they have won 2 lost 2 and drawn 1 game. Their Tuesday night home game against Canvey Island was abandoned at half time due to a waterlogged pitch, the score was 0-0.
The importance of the game can be seen if Town win it will put us on played 24 points 24 with Thurrock on played 19 points 19. Alternately if the home side win they will be on played 19 points 22 with town on 24/21. A draw won't be a disaster but to move up the table and keep away from the relegation zone teams must start winning games against other teams around them in the table.
20th placed Harrow Borough travel to East Thurrock United (12th) on the back of a 2-3 midweek home defeat against Met Police. A small piece of Harrow's website report on the game reads "The relegation trap-door opens wider and wider. Another performance of calamitous defensive howlers saw Harrow’s awful run extend to just one win in seventeen games amassed since a glorious Tuesday night at Bognor Regis in late October". Scorers for Borough were Frankie Merrifield and Danny Leech. 18 year old Merrifield's goal was a 25 yard effort, He is currently on loan from League Two AFC Wimbledon. Central defender Leech has played for Harrow since 2004 and made over 300 appearance for the club. Also playing for Harrow were striker Jon-Jo Bates who has recently joined the club, striker Emmanuel Akokhia (another 18 year old on loan from AFC Wimbledon), Charles Ofusu-Hene (ex Kingstonian, Redhill and Waltham Forest), goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons (who is currently on loan from Crystal Palace), Jordan Berry (signed from Plymouth Argyle) and Spanish striker Juan Onieva (ex Redbridge, Staines Town and AFC Hornchurch).
Fitzsimons has replaced Eljvis Putnins who played against Town in November. The Latvian ex Queens Park Ranger's keeper has recently joined Blue Square Premier side Woking.
There were seven changes to the Harrow starting XI in the game against the Met Police in comparison to the Town game in November as manager Dave Anderson battle's to stay out of the bottom two.
Hastings United (19th) travel to in-form Concord Rangers (4th) in what will be a very difficult game. Rangers last two results have been an amazing 0-4 win at Bury Town and a 2-1 home win versus Margate. Harry Elmes (renamed Hat-Trick Harry) bagged three goals for the Islander's at Ram Meadow in a game which also saw three red cards brandished. After a two footed challenge from the home side on Tony Stokes Ranger's website words it as "all twenty-two players and the three officials in a mass of ill discipline". Ranger's Steve King along with Josh Kennedy and Luke Ingram of Bury got their marching orders. Surely on form this must be a home banker but stranger things have happened?
Wingate and Finchley (17th) host Margate (6th) with the home side losing striker Leon Smith on loan to Wealdstone recently. Smith has joined The Stones as a replacement for Richard Jolly who is currently on honeymoon. The blue's last game was back on the 12th January where they ran Whitehawk close in a 2-3 home defeat so they could be a strong test for play-off chasing Margate. Both clubs have new managers with Gary Meakin now fully settled in at The Harry Abrahams Stadium after moving from Northwood in early November to replace David Norman. Meakin's record over the ten league games played so far is 2 wins, 1 draw and 7 defeats. The two wins have come in the last three games being 2-3 at Wealdstone and a 1-2 at Harrow Brough. Ex Towner Gaz Dauti is now part of the coaching team at Wingate as well. Meakin has recruited Midfielder John Christian from his old club Northwood, Wilson Gondwe who was at Harrow Borough last season, ex Town reserve Tyler Christian Law who was at Margate, Scott Shulton from Hendon and Lee Close on loan from Boreham Wood since joining the club. Ex Town player Gary Burrell has also re-joined along with centre-forward Jack Hutchinson being another to follow Meakin from Northwood.
Chris Kinnear has recently left Margate to take over at Blue Sqaure South side Dover Athletic. He has been replaced on a caretaker basis by goalkeeper Craig Holloway who is a Pro-One goalkeeping coach who joined The Gate last summer from Welling United. He has played for a host of other Blue Square South sides and started his career at Arsenal. Ex football league player Simon Osborn has been brought in at Holloway's assistant, he had recently been at Kent League side Erith and Belvedere.
Holloway has made a couple of signings since taking over. Jermaine Brown, a midfielder, recently at Chelmsford City has joined. He was at Hartsdown Park during the 2005/06 season and has also played for Colchester United, Boston United, Lewes and Aldershot Town. He was a youth-team player at Arsenal.
Defender James Campbell has also joined from Premier League club Stoke City on a one-month loan deal. He joined The Potters from Arsenal in the summer and has played for the Scottish national under 19 side. He was an unused substitute in Stoke's game at Sunderland on 3rd January.
Cray Wanderers (15th) host Canvey Island (3rd) with the home side bottom of the current from table on 0 wins and 1 draw from their last six. Canvey has climbed the table and are now real contenders for a play-off place having won four of their last six games. In those matches Cray have scored 4 and let in 14 with The Gulls scoring 13 and letting in 8 so there should be goals in this one. Canvey manager Steve Tilson has lost the services of Louis Dennis who has returned to Dagenham and Redbridge after a successful loan spell with the club.
Leiston (14th) hose the Metropolitan Police (11th) in what should be a level sort of game. Leiston have drawn 50% of their 22 games so far with the Police team drawing 8 of their 20. The Suffolk side have also drawn 4 of the last 6 games with their visitors winning 3 drawing 2 and losing only 1 of their last 6 games. Leiston had an excellent 1-1 result at home to Wealdstone on Tuesday night. Ex Waltham Abbey forward Emmanuel Osei got their goal with goalkeeper Dan Heath (currently on loan from Thurlow Nunn League side Hadleigh United) pulling off some good saves to keep his side in contention. For the police striker Craig Watkins has recently re-signed from the club from Blue Square South side Sutton United, He had played a major part in the club's Division One (South) championship side in 2010/11.
One of the games of the day is the Sussex derby between Lewes (13th) and Whitehawk (1st) at The Enclosed Ground. A measure of their fire power is shown in the fact they have scored twenty-four goals in their last six games which is more than Hendon (22 games), Hastings United (21) and Thurrock (18) have managed all season. The Hawks haven't lost in fourteen league games and have won five of their last six. Their last game was a 2-5 victory at the Met Police which saw Michael Malcolm score is fifth goal in three games since joining the club. Malcolm was a youth player at Tottenham and has played for Stockport County, Kettering Town and Crawley Town amongst other clubs. He was most recently at Bromley in the Blue Square South division.
Another new player Kieron St Aimie scored in this game which was his debut for the club. He has most recently been played regularly (24 appearances) for Blue Square Premier club AFC Telford United. He has travelled about since leaving Queens Park Rangers in 2008 where he was a youth team player and had a professional contract. The midfielders counts Oxford United (loan), Barnet, Grays Athletic (loan), Stevenage Borough (loan), Lewes (loan), Thurrock, Hitchin Town, Maidenhead United, AFC Hornchurch, Kettering Town and Tamworth as former clubs.
The Hawks have also added some Brazilian flair to their side with Raphael Rossi Branco recently joining in early December. The defender who had had been part of the development squad at Brighton and HA has now played eight times for his new club scoring one at Bognor Regis Town. He has played in the youth system of Brazilian club Cruzeiro Esporte Club.
Lewes have won 2, drawn 2 and lost 2 in their last 6 games and conceded 12 goals. They will be well backed by their travelling supporters who will make the short trip down to East Brighton. However, The Hawks will be strong favourites for the win.
Hampton and Richmond Borough (10th) go to Bury Town (8th) with the visitors now nine points off the play-off zone. They do have games in hand over most clubs but will need to start winning games to stay in touch. Bury are only 3 points off 5th place but are the only side in the top 12 with a minus goal difference on -2.
Pacey winger or front man Warren Whitley has joined Bury on loan from Chelmsford City and the ex Harrow Borough player will be a decent addition to their squad. There is also good news for their fans as defender and captain Tom Bullard, goalkeeper Marcus Garnham and midfielder Lee Reed have all committed their future to the club signing contracts for the 2013/14 season.
Lowestoft Town (9th) travel to Wealdstone (2nd) in what is the game of the day. Both teams have realistic title ambitions despite Whitehawk's current nine point lead. The Trawlerboys have four games in hand over The Stones and five over The Hawks so this really is a must win game for both sides. The Stones form has dipped of last with only two wins, two draws and two defeats in their last six. Lowestoft have won 4 and drawn 2 of their games. For the Suffolk side Josh Dawkin (midfield or attack) has extended his loan from Braintree Town until the end of the season. This game is bound to attract a decent crowd to Grosvenor Vale and it's one that you can't really predict as both sides are capable on their day to produce some of the best football in the division.
Finally, Another game involving teams chasing a play-off spot sees Kingstonian (7th) visit Bognor Regis Town (5th) with The Rocks looking really impressive against Town last Saturday. The K's won 1-3 at Carshalton Athletic last Saturday with goals from Aaron Goode, 20 year old Nathan Koranteng (a recent signing who was playing at Tonbridge Angels) and Matt Pattison. Koranteng (born in Hackney) is a pacey winger who started his career at Peterbrough United has also represented Boreham Wood and Woking amongst other clubs.
K's manager Alan Dowson has recently strengthened his squad with the signings of two former fan's favourites in striker Paul Vines (from Cray Wanderers) and defender Ian Gayle (on loan from Dagenham and Redbridge). Gayle was on loan at the club for most of last season Vines has been at Kingstonian on two previous occasion most recently in 2011 where he scored 9 times in 16 appearances.
ILFORD WIN AT LAST
In the Ryman Division One (North) Ilford won their first game since the 2-1 opening day victory over Soham Town Rangers. 59 people saw The Foxes recorded a crucial victory over relegation rival's Redbridge a result which sees Ware go back to bottom of the table. 34 year old Jody Banim started his first game for The Foxes. He has recently been playing for Essex Senior League Clapton having played for a host of clubs (Shrewsbury Town and Torquay United are just two of a long list of clubs) after he left Manchester United where he was a youth team player in 1996. Banim, set up both goals for Hsama Hamdan. The Motormen's goal came from 16 year old Charlie Portway who is the son of current joint manager and all round non-league legend Steve Portway who himself played as a substitute at the age of just 44 years old. The Foxes go to Heybridge Swifts this weekend and it's going to be an interesting battle between themselves, Redbridge and Ware as to who occupies the relegation place at the end of the season. The Motormen host Wroxham and Ware go to Waltham Forest tomorrow. Wroxham are on 23 points above Ilford in 21st place so it's going to be one of the three teams who unfortunately go down.
RYMAN DIVISION ONE NORTH (CURRENT BOTTOM THREE)
* Redbridge one point deducted
| POS | TEAM | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | FORM |
| 20 | ILFORD | 22 | 2 | 5 | 15 | 13 | 52 | -39 | 11 | LLDLLW |
| 21 | REDBRIDGE | 23 | 3 | 2 | 18 | 19 | 69 | -50 | 10* | LLLLDL |
| 22 | WARE | 23 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 23 | 66 | -43 | 9 | LWLLLL |
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