SOUTHERN COUNTIES (EAST) LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION - THE SEASON SO FAR

POSITION	TEAM	P	GD	PTS	FORM
1	AFC CROYDON ATHLETIC	13	+18	31	WWDWLW
2	CROWBOROUGH ATHLETIC	13	+22	29	WWWWWW
3	ASHFORD UNITED	13	+24	28	WDWWWL
4	SHEPPEY UNITED	14	+6	27	DWWWLW
5	SEVENOAKS TOWN	10	+13	24	LWWWWW
6	HOLLANDS & BLAIR	13	+8	24	WLWWWD

The battle for the SCEL Premier Division title is a very tightly fought affair so far with just seven points separating AFC Croydon Athletic in top spot and sixth placed Hollands and Blair. The Rams lead the division but could be overtaken by currently fifth Sevenoaks Town if they win their three games in hand. The Oaks were promoted to the then Kent League in 2003 and have since achieved a best placed finish of fifth place last season so this campaign could well be a record breaking one for them. 

Ashford United, formed in 2010 after Ashford Town (Kent) went into administration, have been knocking on the door of promotion to Step four since joining the league in 2013 finishing in 2nd, 2nd and last season 3rd place. Could this season be the one for The Nuts and Bolts as they are nicknamed? 

Crowborough Athletic are the form side in the current top six having won all of their last six league games. In 2008/09 they did spend one season in the Ryman League Division One (South) having won the Sussex County League - they were relegated winning only four of forty-two games played and conceding 125 goals. Since moving over the SCEL they have finished 10th and 7th so this season is a real improvement in form. Their form looks even better when you read that two of the six wins have come against Sheppey United and Ashford Town. 

The history of football on the Isle of Sheppey dates prior to 1890 (there was a club named Sheppey Rovers also) when the original Sheppey United FC were formed following a merger between Sheerness Victoria and Invicta. The club played in the Southern League between 1894 to 1901 which was then one of the strongest leagues in the country and also competed between 1927 to 1932 and 1984 to 1990. Over the past decade or so it's been a little complex - The club was disbanded in 2001 and reformed in 2003 competing in the Kent County League Division Two (East). In 2007 there was a name change to AFC Sheppey followed by a change back to the original Sheppey United in 2010 and a resignation for the KCL Premier midway through the 2012/13 season. In 2013/14 'Sheppey and Sheerness United' formed as a result of another merger between 'Sheppey United' and 'Sheerness East' who had been members of the KCL since 2002. The name was then changed back to Sheppey United at the start of the 2014/15 season where they spent two campaigns in the Kent Invicta League which merged with the SCEL to form the SCEL Division One during the summer.  

Happily now the club has a newly developed ground at Holm Park and has ambitions to play higher up the non-league pyramid. Everyone associated with the club will be pleased to be in fourth place after fourteen games played in their first season back at this level of football since 2001. They would of enjoyed the 1-0  home victory over their rival's from across the water in Whitstable Town on Saturday 29th August. The population of the Island is around 40,000 people so I think with some hard work both off and on the pitch their no reason why there couldn't be a team a few levels up the English football system. They have an average attendance of 329 for their league games so far which is a figure which beats over half the Ryman Premier - 465 saw their recent game against Tunbridge Wells.  The eagerly anticipated Boxing Day home clash with Ashford United will attract a massive festive crowd to Holm Park and I think will easily break the 500 mark. 

The current table topper's AFC Croydon Athletic are one of the many recently 're-formed'* clubs in the division like the above mentioned Sheppey and Ashford United - there is also Canterbury City (folded 2001 and reformed in 2007) and Fisher FC (formed after the demise of the famous Fisher Athletic in 2009). After coming runner's up in the Combined Counties League Division in 2014/15 the club were moved across to the SCEL Premier for 2015/16 and finished in 11th place last season. Their only two league defeats so far came on their opening fixture at Whitstable Town and more recently at the start of October against Hollands and Blair. 

* Less recently - Beckenham Town (folded 1969 and re-formed in 1971)

POSITION	TEAM	P	GD	PTS	FORM
7	CRAY VALLEY PM	12	+17	22	WWLWLL
8	WHITSTABLE TOWN	13	+7	21	WWLLWW
9	ROCHESTER UNITED	13	-7	20	LWLWLW
10	CROYDON	11	+6	17	LWLLWL
11	CANTERBURY CITY	12	+8	16	DWDWDW
12	CORINTHIAN	14	-9	16	WLDLLW

Rochester United, currently in ninth place, last two home games have been very heavy defeats against Ashford United (0-8) and Canterbury City (0-5) which had dented their goals against column somewhat making them and Corinthian the only teams in the top twelve with negative GD. 

What is wrong in my book is that a City the size of Canterbury (population around 55,000) has a football team, after they were re-formed in 2007, but at present they have to ground-share with Ashford United which is around a thirty mile round-trip for each 'home' game. Since 2007 they initially played on pitches in the villages of nearby Bridge and Hersden moving to ground share with Herne Bay as they moved up the pyramid structure - They have shared with Ashford since the beginning of 2014/15. The club's former home at Kingsmead Stadium was closed in 1999 and now, like many old football grounds, is a housing estate. The good news is the council have been working with the club to secure a new home in Hersden - there is still along way to go but hopefully they will have their own stadium soon. 

Canterbury City this season are unbeaten in their last ten league and cup games and have an intriguing tie in the next round of the FA Vase in a clash of the Cathedral City's when they visit Chichester City on Saturday 12th November. 

POSITION	TEAM	P	GD	PTS	FORM
13	ERITH & BELVEDERE	13	0	14	DWDWLD
14	DEAL TOWN	15	-13	13	LLLDWD
15	LORDSWOOD	15	-25	13	LWLLLL
16	BECKENHAM TOWN	14	-12	12	LLLLDL
17	ERITH TOWN	14	-22	11	WWLLLD
18	TUNBRIDGE WELLS	11	-6	9	DWWLDL
19	BEARSTEAD	14	-11	9	LLWLLL
18	FISHER	16	-24	7	LDLLLL

At the wrong end of the table it's been a great season off the field for Fisher FC who have moved into a new home only a stone's throw from where Fisher Athletic's old Surrey Quays Stadium stood. Now managed by non-league legend Gary Abbott they have only one league win in sixteen games played - which came at Erith Town on Friday 2nd September. They have had two good wins recently in Cup Competitions both against teams from the SCEL Division One. Snodland Town were beaten 4-0 in the SCEFL Cup and Lydd Town left South London on the back of a 5-2 defeat in the Kent Senior Trophy. They have a very tough game on Saturday when one of the form sides in Sevenoaks Town visit. 

FACTS & STATS ON THE SEASON SO FAR 

* NO TEAMS ARE LEFT UNBEATEN IN THE SCEFL PREMIER DIVISION
* FISHER FC ARE THE ONLY CLUB LEFT WITHOUT A HOME LEAGUE WIN
* EVERY CLUB HAS LOST AT LEAST ONE HOME LEAGUE GAME
* CROWBOROUGH ATHLETIC, HOLLANDS & BLAIR, ROCHESTER UNITED & CROYDON ARE ALL UNBEATEN IN AWAY GAMES.
* ASHFORD UNITED ARE THE TOP SCORERS ON 36 GOALS IN 13 GAMES
* LORDSWOOD HAVE THE WORST DEFENCE IN THE DIVISION LETTING IN 51 GOALS IN 15 GAMES.
* WHITSTABLE TOWN and SEVENOAKS TOWN ARE THE ONLY TWO SIDES YET TO DRAW A LEAGUE GAME.

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES FOR THIS WEEK 

Tuesday 1st November 

Ashford United v Sevenoaks Town 

Saturday 5th November 
AFC Croydon Athletic v Corinthian 
Ashford United v Croydon 
Cray Valley PM v Canterbury City 
Deal Town v Hollands & Blair 
Erith & Belvedere v Bearsted 
Erith Town v Rochester United 
Fisher v Sevenoaks Town 
Lordswood v Crowborough Athletic 
Sheppey United v Beckenham Town 
Tunbridge Wells v Whitstable Town 

BIGGLESWADE UNITED v HERTFORD TOWN HIGHLIGHTS + EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH GUILLEM BALAGUE

Courtesy of Hertford Town fan @NathanJHobley below is an interesting interview with football journalist, author and presenter Guillem Balague about his involvement with Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division side Biggleswade United - where he is the Director of Football - followed by some brilliant highlights of the eventful 2-2 draw played on Saturday. It's well worth a watch - Get following Nathan on Twitter!   

RYMAN PREMIER DIVISION ALTERNATE TABLE

The below is an alternate league table for the current Ryman Premier Division Top twelve showing the points dropped by each team. It shows that there is a clear gap between Leiston, H&W, Needham Market, Bognor Regis Town and Tonbridge Angels and the rest of the division in percentage terms. 

Betway.com make Leiston 2/1 favourites for the title followed by H&W at 5/2. Bognor Regis Town are 7/1 with Needham Market at 9/1 and Dulwich Hamlet at 12/1. Could Tonbridge Angels at 14/1 and only 36.11% of points dropped be a good outside bet for the title? 

TEAM	PTS AVAILABLE	PTS WON	PTS DROPPED	PERCENTAGE
LEISTON	42	32	10	23.81%
HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE	42	30	12	28.57%
NEEDHAM MARKET	48	32	14	29.11%
BOGNOR REGIS TOWN	45	30	15	33.33%
TONBRIDGE ANGELS	36	23	13	36.11%
DULWICH HAMLET	48	24	24 (GS 33)	50.00%
BILLERICAY TOWN	36	18	18 (GS 20)	50.00%
WINGATE AND FINCHLEY	42	20	22	52.38%
HARLOW TOWN	51	23	28	54.90%
ENFIELD TOWN	45	20	25 (+9 GD)	55.56%
LOWESTOFT TOWN	45	20	25 (+3)	55.56%
WORTHING	48	23	25 (-4)	55.56%

ENFIELD BOROUGH GO TOP OF THE LEAGUE WITH IMPRESSIVE WIN AGAINST TOTTERNHOE

SOLOMON NWABUOKEI SCORES A HAT-TRICK AND ALFIE HATCH NETS A MEMORABLE FREE-KICK 

Enfield Borough are proudly sitting on top of the Spartan South Midlands League Division Two going into the weekend games following a confident performance and 4-0 win at home versus Totternhoe on Wednesday evening. The visitors came to Donkey Lane with a decent league record of seven wins and two defeats in their nine league games played including a 2-1 home win versus The Panthers on the opening day of the season. 

The home side took an early lead via 20 year old Solomon Nwabuokei who was impressive throughout the game in an attacking midfield role - He scored a deserved hat-trick and looks a player with a very bright future - Last season he spent time with Cuffley in the Hertfordshire Senior County League Premier Division and has also played for Grays Athletic u21 side. 

Credit to Totternhoe who created a number of chances and should of really made the score 1-1 when a header from close range was header over when it looked easier to head into the net. 

Borough's Alfie Hatch will remember the game as his free kick to make it 2-0 was a class effort which bent and swerved from way outside of the penalty box giving the Tott's keeper no chance. The half time score was 2-0.

Borough, via Nwabuokei, scored twice more in the second half and could of made it more with two goals ruled out for offside and having a number of other good scoring chances. 

Manager Marvin Walker will be very pleased to be top of the table but will be keeping his squad's feet firmly on the ground as they go into their weekend's game away at Mursley United. 

On a night when some mindless so called 'fans' at the West Ham United v Chelsea game brought violence inside The London Stadium to the front pages of The National Newspapers it's unfortunate and disappointing that Enfield Borough, just a few miles away, who doing great things at non-league level won't grab any headlines which they and many other clubs full deserve in my opinion. 

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS 
including all four goals scored - Alfie Hatch's free-kick is well worth a watch


The below tweet from Sunday 9th October sums up their philosophy on the game we all know and love - which I think brilliantly sums up many clubs at this level of football.    

Spartan South Midlands League
Division Two Current Table

POS	TEAM	P	GD	PTS
1	ENFIELD BOROUGH	15	+25	30
2	ST NEOTS TOWN RES	15	+19	30
3	THAME RANGERS	11	+37	28
4	PITSTONE & IVINGHOE	12	+10	24

Looking at the table it's third placed Thame Rangers who will still be considered favourites for the title with four games in hand over the current top two. 

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

SATURDAY 29th OCTOBER  

Amersham Town v Grendon Rangers
Clean Slate v Totternhoe
Hale Leys United v Old Bradwell United
Mursley United v Enfield Borough
New Bradwell St Peter v Aston Clinton
Pitstone & Ivinghoe v Unite MK 

TUESDAY 1st NOVEMBER
New Bradwell St Peter v The 61(FC) Luton
Thame Rangers v Grendon Rangers

SATURDAY 5th NOVEMBER

Clean Slate v Aston Clinton 
Grendon Rangers v Thame Rangers 
Loughton Manor v Hale Leys United 
MK Gallacticos v New Bradwell St Peter 
Old Bradwell United v Enfield Borough 
Amersham Town v Pitstone & Ivinghoe 
St. Neots Town Reserves v Unite MK

FORGET THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF THIS WAS THE GREAT BALDOCK COME BACK

BALDOCK TOWN'S RED ARMY CELEBRATE IN UNIQUE STYLE AFTER THE GAME

#GBCB might not trend as much as #GBBO on social media but this was another enjoyable and fascinating game of football which culminated in Baldock Town scoring two late goals to take all three points against a Risborough Rangers team who defended very well especially during the second half. When both sides look at the league table at the end of the season this could be a vital win for Baldock. 

The visitors were top of the league prior to kick off having won nine, drawn two and lost two of their thirteen games played with Baldock as reported in last week's amazing game against Biggleswade FC winning eight and losing just one of their nine games. 

Risborough went in at half time 1-2 up thanks to goals from Callum Mansell and Stephen Tavender but the score could of been different as the home side missed a couple of great chances to make add to their lead when 1-0 up. 

Luke Gregson's side put Risborough under pressure more or less throughout the second half with the cross-bar coming to their rescue once and it was looking as though they would hold out for an important victory - They counter-attacked very well and created a number of chances themselves. One was even cleared off the line or was it over?? 

However in the final four minutes a header from Lewis Barker and then player-manager Gregson (following a last gasp long ball into the box from goalkeeper Jack Farmer sealed the points) sealed the points and a famous victory for the Hertfordshire side against their title rivals. 

The home side's RED ARMY group of fans even celebrated after the kick off with a red flare set off behind the goal. When the smoke settled and Risborough look back on this fixture they will be gutted not to take home at least a point from their hard work over the 90 minutes - No doubt they will re-group and go again in their next game which is on the road to sixteenth placed Broadfields United. Baldock are also on their travels against Hadley Wood & Wingate who are currently placed in fifteenth place in the table. 

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS 
including all five of the goals scored

ARTHURIAN LEAGUE EARLY KICK OFF FIXTURES

The Arthurian League was formed back in 1961 and is currently running with seven divisions of sixty teams. It was set up for teams of public schools old boys and is affilated to the the Amateur Football Alliance making it not part of the English Football pyramid system much like the Southern Amateur League (formed in 1907) and the Amateur Football Combination (formed in 2002 as result of the merger between the Old Boy's Football League and Southern Olympian League). 

The league has two clubs steeped in football history as members in Old Carthusians and Old Etonians. The former's  first team have dominated the league's top division since 2006 winning the title eight times and lifting the famous Arthur Dunn Cup seven times. Old Carthsians were formed in 1876 famously winning The FA Cup in 1881 and The FA Amateur Cup in 1894 and 1897. The Old Etonians were formed five years earlier than their rivals in 1871 and winning The FA Cup in 1879 and 1882 as well reaching the final in 1875, 1876, 1881 and 1883. They have not won the Arthurian League Premier Division since 2004/05. 

The league this season has a large number of earlier kick offs for games which gives ground-hoppers and football fans the chance to take in a game they may not usually see. Here is the list of games that kick off early over the next few weeks along with details of where they take place. Please check with clubs for kick off times before you travel - 

Saturday 29th October
Division Three
12pm KO unless stated
Old Epsomians v Old Salopians II - at The Deckers Sports Ground 

Division Four 
Old Merchant Taylors v Old Haberdashers - at Merchant Taylor's School 
Old Stoics v Old Suttonians SV - at University of Westminster
Old Tonbridgians II v Old Cholmeleians II - at Wrotham School 12.15pm 

Artuhr Dunn Cup
Old Marlburians v Old Bancroftians - at Lincoln Fields Sports Pitches 

Saturday 12th November
Premier Division
12pm KO unless stated
Old Marlburians v Lancing Old Boys - at Lincoln Field Sports Pitches 
Old Salopians v Old Harrovians - at King's House Sports Ground 

Arthur Dunn Cup 
Old Tonbridgians v Old Carthusians - at Wrotham School 12.15pm 

FA YOUTH CUP FIRST ROUND DRAW MADE

The draw for the First Round Proper of The FA Youth Cup has been made this week and it handed both Metropolitan Police and FC Broxbourne Borough byes to the Second Round. Could this season's Met side emulate their Cup heroics from last season when they beat South Park, Hampton and Richmond Borough, Knaphill, Folkestone Invicta, Dulwich Hamlet, Yeovil Town and Burnley along the way to reaching the Fourth Round Proper before losing at Molineux to a strong Wolverhampton Wanderers side. Here is the draw in full with details of some of the games that are being played. Forth-Three clubs such as Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United are all exempt from the competition until the Third Round Proper. Games are scheduled to be played in the week leading up to Saturday 5th November. 

FA YOUTH CUP FIRST ROUND PROPER 
non-league clubs in bold 
Bradford City v Hartlepool United
Chester v Fleetwood Town
Sheffield United v Crewe Alexandra
FC United of Manchester v Carlisle United
Hyde United or Irlam v Morecambe
Wrexham v Accrington Stanley
Bolton Wanderers v Blackpool
Scunthorpe United v Grimsby Town
Oldham Athletic v Bury
Altrincham or Tranmere Rovers v Doncaster Rovers
FC Halifax Town v York City
Rochdale v Ryton & Crawcrook Albion or Darlington 1883
Dunkirk v Coventry City
Notts County v Romulus
Peterborough United v Port Vale
Shrewsbury Town v Wolverhampton Casuals
Bedworth United v Mansfield Town
Chesterfield v Walsall
Boston United v Hereford
Boreham Wood v Northampton Town
Cambridge United v Beaconsfield SYCOB
Barnet v Luton Town
Southend United v Leyton Orient
Dagenham & Redbridge v Colchester United
AFC Sudbury v Framlingham Town
Milton Keynes Dons v AFC Hornchurch
Ware v Stevenage
Charlton Athletic v Maidstone United
Millwall v Worthing
Gillingham v Corinthian
Folkestone Invicta v Merstham
AFC Wimbledon v North Greenford United
Gloucester City v Poole Town
Newport County v Yeovil Town
Radstock Town v Exeter City
Oxford United v Bristol Rovers
Andover Town v Oxford City
Cheltenham Town v Plymouth Argyle
Salisbury v Swindon Town
Portsmouth v Eastleigh

byes - Metropolitan Police and FC Broxbourne Borough

SUCCESS FOR BUSHEY AS THEY BAG THREE POINTS AT BIRCHWOOD

HATFIELD TOWN RESERVE'S RUN WITHOUT A WIN STRETCHES TO TEN GAMES 

Hatfield Town Reserves have made a unspectacular start to their Hertfordshire Senior County League Division One campaign winning just one game in the nine games played up until yesterday's home game with Bushey Sports Club Reserves. Their solitary victory came against Lings Elite (5-2) on the opening day of the season back in August - Lings Elite have since gone on lose all ten of their league games played. Hatfield Town Res best result since has been a 2-2 draw at home to Harefield United Reserves with their worst being a 3-12 defeat against Sun Sports Reserves.   

Bushey Sports Club Reserves have performed a little better winning four of their eight games played prior to kick off at the Birchwood Leisure Centre in Hatfield on a rather nice Autumnal afternoon yesterday. Their best result was the 0-1 victory at Hinton which is the title contenders only defeat so far this season.  

It started well for the home side when they scored to make it 1-0 but it was Bushey, looking the more tidy in their play going forward, who scored twice before the break to make it 1-2 at half time. They even had the luxury of skying a penalty-kick over the bar before scoring a third to wrap up their fourth away league victory in six games played on their travels. There would of been more goals for Bushey had it not been for some excellent saves from the Hatfield goal-keeper. 

Hatfield Town Reserves are at home next weekend to Hampstead Heath who are in 12th place in the table next weekend with Bushey SC Reserves at home to Hadley 'A' in the Reserve Cup.  It'll be Hatfield Town's eleventh game without a win if they lose next weekend. 

It's been a long season already for Hatfield Town's first team as well in the Spartan South Midlands League Division One - they have won two games in their fourteen league games played so far which have come against fellow struggler's Arlesey Town Reserves and Brimsdown FC. They did record a decent 2-1 victory over Harpenden Town the Herts Senior Centenary Trophy where they travel to HSCL Premier side Sarratt (who are currently bottom of the table) in the next round on Saturday 5th November. If you are resident in Hatfield why not pop along and give your local side some support - the team will be very glad of it.  You can follow them on twitter - @HatfieldTownFC - they have 2,700 followers but only between 20 to 30 people attend their first team games at the unique Gosling Stadium in Welwyn GC or their reserve team games usually played at Birchwood Leisure Centre - It would be great if they could add a few more! 

BUSHEY SPORTS CLUB RESERVES - A GRASSROOTS HALF TIME TEAM TALK

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS ARE BELOW 

including all four goals scored 

IMPRESSIVE BIGGLESWADE FC CELEBRATE FANTASTIC WIN AGAINST BALDOCK TOWN

It was an eagerly anticipated local derby day at Roker Park on Tuesday evening as Baldock Town welcomed Biggleswade FC in the Spartan South Midlands League Division One. The game saw fourth place play second place in the table with both sides in good form having had some notable results of late. 

Going into the game Baldock had one of the best league records in the country winning all seven of the games they had played scoring seventeen goals without conceding one. Biggleswade had won eight and lost just two of their league games (against Kensington Borough and Broadfields) - they knew victory would possibly, pending Risborough Rangers result at home to Harefield United, send them to the top of the league table. 

On the day after the heavily publicised "biggest game of the Barclays Premier League season so far" between Liverpool and Manchester United ended in a uneventful stalemate with chances at premium this game was so much more entertaining and had loads more incidents to talk about. Both teams attacked, played some impressive football and attempted to win the game - It was a great advert for the non-league so it's a shame only 59 people saw it. If Klopp and Mourinho's men would of played out what occurred in this game it would be a talked about for many years beyond Merseyside and Manchester.   

The first half was really competitive with a smattering of hefty challenges being put in and a number of bookings being dished out. 

After letting in no goals in seven league league games the Baldock defence will be very unhappy at the two goals that Biggleswade scored in the first half. George Reilly found himself with what seemed like acres of space outside of the box giving him the time to strike the ball home past Jack Farmer in the Baldock goal. Just moments later a looping corner was headed home at the far post by Ryan Vale. The half time score was 0-2 and Biggleswade looked good for it with Tom Cookman and Ebey Marango looking decent up front.

A number of the Baldock supporter's group known as 'The Red Army' were furious they weren't given a penalty kick in the first half when one of their players went down after a challenge in the box - Have a look at the video from 0m 40s to see what you think? Was there any contact made?

The home side came back into the game as manager Luke Gregson made two substitutions at half time. They narrowed the deficit to 1-2 via Owen Robertson and the game looked well with in their reach but it was Biggleswade who got what looked like a killer third goal. Cookman headed home a fantastic cross at the far post after a brilliant cross from the right had side. Cookman whom had already been booked was slightly over exuberant in his celebration kicking the corner flag sending it flying over the spectator fence - the referee subsequently sent him off for a second bookable offence. 

Baldock continued to put the pressure on the the away back line and scored another via Robertson to make it 2-3. Biggleswade showed some immense character and team work to defend well in the face of the numerous home attacks. Just before the final whistle a long ball was launched from their keeper up field which was received by Marango who smashed the ball past Farmer to the delight of their bench to record a memorable victory for his side. This was definitely the goal of the night and one of the best i've seen all season so far. 

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS 
15 minutes of highlights including all six of the goals scored


Credit to both teams for a highly entertaining match - Biggleswade's social-media tweeted that this season will surely be Baldock's last one in the SSMFL Division One as they are a quality side. A nice touch from a great new club.  

I would say both will be involved in the race for the title - Biggleswade are now top of the table following Risborough's 1-1 draw at home to Harefield United. 

Baldock will be hoping they get a better result against Biggleswade United in the Buildbase FA Vase on Saturday - this will be a SSMFL Division One (Step 6) v Premier Division (Step 7) local derby. Biggleswade FC are on their travels in the Vase as they journey to Plaistow in East London and The Terrance McMillan Stadium where they played Essex Olympian League Premier Division side Canning Town who shocked Essex Senior League side Southend Manor in the last round - since that victory CTFC have lost to Kelvedon Hatch, won against Buckhurst Hill and last weekend drew 3-3 away at Rayleigh Town. 

If you live close to either Baldock or Biggleswade I would recommend a visit to watch either side in action. 

Spartan South Midlands League 
Division One 
Current Table - Top Eight Only 

POS	TEAM	P	GD	PTS
1	BIGGLESWADE FC	11	+14	27
2	RISBOROUGH RANGERS	12	+9	26
3	HILLINGDON BOROUGH	12	+16	22
4	WODSON PARK	14	+3	22
5	HARPENDEN TOWN	10	+19	21
6	BALDOCK TOWN	8	+15	21
7	KENSINGTON BOROUGH	12	+8	21
8	WINSLOW UNITED	10	+7	21

FORTHCOMING LEAGUE FIXTURES

SATURDAY 22nd OCTOBER 

Arlesey Town Reserves v Harefield United
Brimsdown v Risborough Rangers
Buckingham Athletic v Harpenden Town
Chesham United Reserves v Ampthill Town
Kensington Borough v Hatfield Town
Langford v Codicote
Wodson Park v Winslow United

TUESDAY 25th OCTOBER
*subject to Buildbase FA Vase replays
Baldock Town v Risborough Rangers

SATURDAY 29th OCTOBER
Ampthill Town v Codicote 
Arlesey Town Reserves v Kensington Borough 
Bedford v Langford 
Broadfields United v Risborough Rangers 
Hadley Wood & Wingate v Baldock Town 
Harpenden Town v Chesham United Reserves 
Hatfield Town v Southall 
Hillingdon Borough v Buckingham Athletic 
Winslow United v Harefield United 
Wodson Park v Brimsdown 

MACRON WELWYN HATFIELD SUNDAY LEAGUE - UPDATE

If you want to see goals 'The Great Northern FC' are the team to go and see - In the five league and cup games they have played so far they have scored 5,5,7,5 and 5 including two amazing 7-7 and 5-5 draws. The five games played so far have produced 44 goals which is an average of 8.8 goals. This weekend they face Doves United in the Herts FA Senior Cup at the pitch by Lemsford Village Hall - Doves play in the Premier Division of the Berkhamsted Sunday League and had won all four of their games (3-2, 3-2, 4-2 and 5-0) played up until Sunday's FA Sunday Cup game with Harpole FC (of Northamptonshire) which they lost 3-2.

There are still three teams left without a league win or point being Hatfield Mosquito, Hatfield Cricket Club and Shamrock Rovers Reserves. They are all in action this weekend - Good Luck to them in their quest to get some points on the board. 

Saturday 23rd October Fixtures

MACRON WELWYN HATFIELD SUNDAY LEAGUE 
Bradmore Rovers v Hatfield Mosquito - King George Playing Fields #3
Shamrock Rovers Reserves v The Rosey - King George Playing Fields #6
Sun Inn Lemsford v Hatfield Cricket Club - Stanborough #1
Welwyn Campus v Hatfield Seniors - King George Playing Fields #1

HERTS FA SUNDAY SENIOR CUP 
The Boot Baldock v First Shamrock Rovers
The Great Northern v Doves United 

GOALS, GOALS AND MORE GOALS - THE GREAT NORTHERN FC

ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE - THE SEASON SO FAR

ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE 

CURRENT TABLE 

TOP FIVE ONLY

POSITION	TEAM	P	GD	PTS	WIN%	PTS DROPPED
1	BARKING	14	+38	37	85.71%	5 (11.90%)
2	HULLBRIDGE SPORTS	20	+12	33	45.00%	27 (45.00%)
3	TAKELEY	17	+11	31	52.94%	20 (39.22%)
4	WALTHAM FOREST	13	+14	29	69.23%	10 (25.64%)
5	BASILDON UNITED	15	+19	28	60.00%	17 (37.78%)

Barking are the front runners in the Essex Senior League and it looks like it's going to take a very good team to finish above them - They have only dropped five points from the possible 42 they have competed for with Cricklefields being unlucky for them as they lost to Barkingside 1-0 and drew with Ilford 1-1 there. In terms of win% no other club is anywhere near their total of 85.71% - Could joint manager's Glen Golby and Steve Willis deliver them their first league title since Eddie McCluskey famously managed them to the Berger Isthmian Premier Division title in 1978/79? 

With Hullbridge Sports and Takeley playing a number of extra games it looks as though Barking's nearest challengers are their local rivals from just up the A406 - Waltham Forest, under the management of Kem Kemal, won their first five league games in a row but have since won four of eight games dropping points in two defeats and two draws. 

So - Tomorrow evening's East London Derby game at Mayesbrook Park is the most important game of the season so far - It's definitely a game not to miss so if you are local why not pop along. 

Also tomorrow evening at Leslie Field Stadium is the battle of the basement teams as second bottom Burnham Ramblers welcome bottom of the table Haringey and Waltham Development. H&W have one win from their fourteen games with The Ramblers slightly better on two wins from the same number played. 

Every team has won at least one home game with just H&W and Sporting Bengal United waiting to pick up a victory on their travels. 

Forthcoming Essex Senior League Fixtures

Tuesday 18th October  
Barking v Waltham Forest
Basildon United v Sawbridgeworth Town 
Burnham Ramblers v Haringey & Waltham 
Redbridge v Barkingside 
Southend Manor v Wadham Lodge 
Stansted v London Bari 

Wedensday 19th October
FC Romania v West Essex 
Ilford v Eton Manor 

Saturday 21st October
many clubs involved in the Buildbase FA Vase 
below are league fixtures scheduled
Haringey & Waltham v Redbridge 
Hullbridge Sports v FC Romania 
London Bari v Ilford 
Sawbridgeworth Town v West Essex 
Southend Manor v Enfield 1893 
Takeley v Stansted