RYMAN PREMIER - BATTLE TO BEAT THE DROP

CARSHALTON ATHLETIC AND ONE OTHER TEAM?

CURRENT RYMAN PREMIER DIVISION TABLE - FROM 15th DOWNWARDS

POS	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS	PP	FORM	WIN%	WIN% 1/1/13
15	ENFIELD TOWN	36	12	5	19	52	68	-16	41	59	LLLWLW	33.33	38.88
16	CRAY WANDERERS	35	9	10	16	49	70	-21	37	58	DLWDLW	25.72	17.65
17	WINGATE &FINCHLEY	37	10	5	22	46	71	-25	35	50	WLLLDW	27.08	35.29
18	HARROW BOROUGH	34	9	7	18	44	60	-16	34	58	LWDLDL	26.47	28.57
19	LEWES	36	7	11	18	49	67	-18	32	50	LLWLLL	19.44	13.33
20	THURROCK	32	7	8	17	32	49	-17	29	59	DLDLLL	21.88	18.75
21	HASTINGS UNITED	32	5	14	13	32	50	-18	29	59	DLLLWL	15.63	12.50
22	CARSHALTON ATHLETIC	37	8	4	25	42	70	-28	28	43	LLLWLW	21.62	29.41

Just three more precious points for Enfield Town would see them move up to 44 points which would mean current bottom placed Carshalton Athletic would be unable to catch them with a possible points total of only 43 and that's if The Robins win all their remaining games.

Carshalton have only five games left with three difficult ones against title challenger's Lowestoft Town, Wealdstone and play-off hopefuls Margate along with what could be a pivotal game at Hastings United and a final day trip to Enfield Town. To have a chance of staying up TheColdEnd thinks they will have to collect at least six points from the games v The Trawlerboys, The Gate and The Stones which is a tough ask indeed.

Hastings United and Thurrock both have games in hand over the teams at the bottom which raises the question is this better than points in the bag? Hastings have the lowest win% in the bottom eight since the 1/1/13 at only 12.50% (they've won only two out of sixteen games which came away at Cray Wanderers and at home to Lewes). They need to start picking wins up soon!

Lewes are next worst on the win% since 1/1/13 with only two wins in fifteen league games which came against teams at the bottom of the league in Wingate & Finchley and Carshalton Athletic. The Rooks are away to Hendon tomorrow and then have two crucial home games versus Margate and then Leiston. If they don't collect points in these games then they are in serious threat of relegation to Division One (South).

Harrow Borough should have just enough to stay up as they have won four, drawn four and lost two of their last ten games. If they continue with this form they will avoid the drop zone.

Wingate and Finchley have only five games left and could be pulled down towards the bottom two if teams below them pick up points in their games in hand. They travel to Leiston at the weekend before playing Kingstonian at home. They will look at these games at winnable so their position could look much better a week on Saturday. However, Leiston looked a very good side against Town on Monday and held Lowestoft Town to a 0-0 draw in the previous home game so they will be strong favourites to record a victory in that game.  

Cray's 0-2 victory at Bury Town last night was a brilliant result and like Enfield Town they are now very close to all but mathematically sealing another season in the Ryman Premier division. It's not certain at present and, of course, anything could happen? The result of their home game versus Thurrock on Saturday will be very interesting as they then travel to title challenger's Lowestoft Town and Wealdstone. The Wands also have to play Wingate and Lewes in their remaining games. Cray's away from is the fifth best in the league with seven of their nine wins coming on their travels.

With the three games coming up against Lowestoft Town, Wealdstone and Margate TheColdEnd thinks Carshalton Athletic will have performed a minor miracle if they finish outside of the bottom two at the end of the season. It's then going to be a real fight between a number of teams to stay out of the remaining relegation place.