ANAGRAM RECORDS TROPHY - UPDATE

The Anagram Records Trophy is down to the Quarter-Final stage with matches due to be played on Saturday 25th February as follows - 

Bovingdon v Letchworth Garden City Eagles 
A match between two Herts Senior County Premier Division sides. Bovingdon are having one of their best seasons for a long while - they are currently in second place. The Eagles are in seventh place at present. 
Galleywood v Sandridge Rovers
Herts Senior County Premier Division side Sandridge Rovers travel to ProKit Essex Olympian League Division One side Galleywood. 
Loughton Manor v Manford Way 
EOFL Premier Divisionn side Manford Way travel to Spartan South Midlands League Division Two side Manford Way. 
Old Bradwell United v British Airways (Saturday) 
British Airways of the Middlesex County League Premier Division make a long trip (compared to their usual league games) to Old Bradwell United of the SSMFL Division Two. 

SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE WEEKEND FIXTURES

PREMIER DIVISION
Berkhamsted v Biggleswade United 
Colney Heath v Stotfold 
Crawley Green v Leverstock Green 
FC Broxbourne Borough v Leighton Town 
Hertford Town v Edgware Town 
Hoddesdon Town v Cockfosters 
Holmer Green v Hadley 
London Colney v Oxhey Jets 
London Tigers v Welwyn Garden City 
Sun Sports v Wembley 

The weather is warming up over the weekend so hopefully some games will take place. In the race for the title table topper's London Colney take on Oxhey Jets (15th) who have had a real topsy-turvy season. They drew 3-3 with a last minute equaliser versus Cockfosters in their last game but lost the previous two to that against Biggleswade United (3-4) and the improving London Tigers (2-3). Second placed Hertford Town will want to keep the pressure on London Colney - they have a home game against Edgware Town (17th). The game of the day comes at Lowfield as two in-from sides clash - Fourth placed Hoddesdon Town (only lost one of their last eight league games) welcome third placed Cockfosters (unbeaten in twelve league games). Ironically their last league defeat came against Hoddy back on Tuesday 18th October when they lost 1-2 thanks to the winning goal being scored in injury time. 

There is also a massive game at the bottom of the table as FC Broxbourne Borough host Leighton Town. London Tigers and Holmer Green are just above the current bottom two.   

DIVISION ONE 
Arlesey Town Reserves v Wodson Park 
Baldock Town v Buckingham Athletic 
Chesham United Reserves v Biggleswade FC 
Codicote v Ampthill Town 
Harefield United v Risborough Rangers 
Harpenden Town v Hillingdon Borough 
Hatfield Town v Broadfields United 
Langford v Bedford 

Table topping Biggleswade FC will be looking to get back to winning ways against Chesham United Res with second placed Harpenden Town looking for them to trip up again - they host Hillingdon Borough at home. Baldock Town (3rd) host 11th placed Buckingham Athletic. 

DIVISION TWO 
2pm KO
New Bradwell St Peter v Enfield Borough 
Old Bradwell United v St Neots Town Reserves 
Pitstone & Ivinghoe v Mursley United 
Tring Corinthians v Hale Leys United 
Unite MK FC v Tring Town AFC 

Thame Rangers who currently top Division Two are in cup action so St Neots Town Res could move top of the table with a win away at Old Bradwell United. Enfield Borough (5th) face a tough trip to in form New Bradwell St Peter (6th place) who have won their last four games in a row. 


U25 DEVELOPMENT DIVISION 
Biggleswade United Development v Hertford Town Development 
Buckingham Athletic Development v Risborough Rangers Development 
Hadley Development v Holmer Green Development 
Oxhey Jets Development v Harpenden Town Development 
St Margaretsbury Development v Stotfold Development 
Welwyn Garden City Development v Colney Heath Development 
Wodson Park Development v Winslow United Development 

DIVISION TWO CUP QUARTER FINAL 
2pm KO
Aston Clinton v The 61FC (Luton) 

NATIONAL CHRISTIAN CUP Round 3 (Regional Knock-out) 
1.30pm KO
Christians In Sport (Luton) v Clean Slate  

SLOUGH TOWN CHALLENGE CUP Quarter Final
2pm KO 
Richings Park v Thame Rangers @ Thame Rangers FC 

HERTS INTERMEDIATE CUP Quarter Final 
Cheshunt Reserves v Hoddesdon Town Development

EXCITING WEEKEND OF FA VASE FIFTH ROUND FIXTURES

Eight teams will make one more step on The Road To Wembley over the weekend (subject to replays of course) - None of the sixteen teams left have won the famous FA Vase so they'll be a new name engraved when the final is played later in the season at our National stadium. 

BetVictor are offering odds on the individual games which are stated below. Draws are rated at either 4/1 or 7/2. 

The bookies make South Shields as the clear favourites for the Vase at 15/8 with Bromsgrove Sporting at 8/1 followed by every other team at 14/1 or more. The Mariners are odds on at 4/7 to win their match at Wessex League side Team Solent who are rated at 11/4 - As ever there are no easy games at this stage of the competition!

Good Luck to all teams involved. 

SATURDAY 
Cleethorpes Town (6/5) v Atherton Collieries (6/5) 
Bromsgrove Sporting (4/5) v Bristol Manor Farm (15/8)
Crowborough Athletic (8/13) v Coleshill Town (5/2)
Hinckley AFC (4/5) v Buckland Athletic (15/8)
Newport Pagnell Town (6/4) v Sunderland RCA (1/1)
Ely City (13/8) v Sporting Khalsa (10/11) 
Team Solent (11/4) v South Shields (4/7) 

SUNDAY 
Southall (6/5) v Exmouth Town (5/4)

GAME OF THE SEASON SO FAR IN THE ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE THIS WEEKEND

Friday 27th January 
Redbridge v Enfield 1893

There is some Friday night football at Oakside when The Motormen (11th) take on 1893 who are currently sitting in 17th place. 

Redbridge have a date of their diary coming up on Tuesday 21st February when League One side AFC Wimbledon send a side to East London for a London Senior Cup Second Round game. 

Saturday 28th January
Barkingside v Sawbridgeworth Town 
Basildon United v West Essex 
Clapton v Barking 
FC Romania v London Bari 
Hullbridge Sports v Stansted 
Southend Manor v Eton Manor 
Tower Hamlets v Takeley 
Wadham Lodge v Sporting Bengal United 

The game of the season in the ESL is scheduled to be played on Saturday when table topping Barking visit The Old Spotted Dog to play 3rd placed Clapton. It would usually attract a massive crowd but The Clapton Ultras fan group are still boycotting The Ton's home games due to a dispute with a number of issues concerning the running of the club. With the home side four points behind Barking (who have four games in hand) anything other than a win for Jon Fowell's team. 

Second placed Southend Manor (who lost at Sawbridgeworth Town 5-1 in their last game) entertain Eton Manor who recorded a decent 1-3 away win at Sporting Bengal United on Wednesday evening. The away side's squad has been boosted of late by the return of top scorer Josh Sykes who moved to Ryman Division One (North) Heybridge Swifts a few months ago but has now re-joined on a dual registration basis.  The pitch at Mile End Stadium was in a good condition and it was one of the only games played locally on Wednesday. 

The table is still propped up by Burnham Ramblers who are not in action this weekend. Their next game is an away day at Tower Hamlets on Saturday 4th February. Rambler's record on the road is only one win in ten games played and just four goals scored with thirty-two conceded. 

WORK PROGRESSING WELL AT WHAT WILL BE ESSEX'S NEWEST FOOTBALL GROUND "PARKSIDE"

All things being well Summer 2017 will see Aveley move into their new state of the art home named 'Parkside' which will have a 3G pitch and grass pitches outside of the main stadium. It's an exciting time for all involved at the Essex club with Terry Spillane's side currently in ninth place in the Ryman Division One (North) just one point off fifth place which is the final play-off spot. The club have played at The Mill Field since 1951 so if you haven't visited you only have a few months left to catch a match there - Premier Division Grays Athletic are currently ground-sharing so there are plenty of chances. 

LAST CHANCE TO SEE FOOTBALL AT THE MILL FIELD 

PHOTOS OF THE BUILDING WORK AND PROGRESS AT PARKSIDE. 
COURTESY OF @DJohns1988
  

#DROPWATCH IN THE VANARAMA NATIONAL DIVISION - COULD YORK CITY BE RELEGATED TWICE IN AS MANY SEASONS?

York City's iconic victories against Manchester United and Everton in the League Cup during the 1990s will seem a lifetime away for long term fans of The Minstermen. In 2004 they left they were relegated from the football league and spent eight seasons in non-league's top division before promotion back by beating Luton Town in the 2012 play-off final at Wembley in front of a massive crowd of 39,265. 

They finished rock bottom of League Two last season winning just seven of their forty-six games played and they are in danger of suffering two successive relegations as they are currently bottom of the Vanarama National League. 

Even last weekend when they won 2-1 against play-off chasing Barrow thanks to a 90th minute winner it coincided with three out of the four teams above them also winning with the other (Woking) having their game postponed. It was only their second victory in their last twenty-one league games played. 

If we take a look at the amount of points teams have needed to finish in 20th place to just avoid the drop zone over the last five seasons it averages out at 48 points with a high of 52 and a low of 46. Taking the lower figure of 46 they would have to achieve a figure of 1.24 points per game in their final seventeen games played which is clearly above their current figure/average of 0.86. 

Its not all doom and gloom for The Minstermen as they are still on the Road To Wembley in the Buildbase FA Trophy which is a competition that has been kind to them in the last few years - they won it in their previously last season as a non-league club in 2012 beating Newport County 2-0 at Wembley - it was a lucky stadium for them that season! They go to Vanarama North Nuneaton Town in the Third Round Proper. 

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE
CURRENT TABLE - BOTTOM NINE ONLY

POS	TEAM	P	GD	PTS	PP	FORM
16	SOLIHULL MOORS	28	-7	34	88	LWDDWWLD
17	BRAINTREE TOWN	29	-17	31	82	WDWWLLWD
18	TORQUAY UNITED	29	-10	30	81	LWDWDLLL
19	SOUTHPORT	29	-24	30	81	LWDLWLWL
20	MAIDSTONE UNTED	29	-21	29	80	LWLLDLLW
21	GUISELEY	29	-12	28	79	WDDDWLWW
22	WOKING	28	-13	27	81	LWWDLLLW
23	NORTH FERRIBY UNITED	30	-27	27	75	LWWLWLLW
24	YORK CITY	29	-20	25	76	LDLDWLDW

As you can see from the current form of all of the teams involved at the bottom of the table there is a real battle to stay out of the bottom four - only title chasing Tranmere Rovers and Lincoln City have a better record then Guiseley over the last eight games played! They have won 53.57% of their points total over the last eight games played which is pretty impressive. 

The team with the worst record over the last eight league games played in the bottom nine is Maidstone United who after making a decent start in their debut season at non-league's top table* have dropped down the table and are now fighting to keep hold of their status in the Vanarama National. 

* the old Maidstone United did, of course, play in the Conference

The Stones had a record of 1.29 ppg over their first fourteen games played compared to just 0.73 over the next fifteen played. Five of their eight wins came in the first fourteen games played. Their 2-1 home win over fellow struggler's Toquay United in their last game played could be a pivotal result for both sides. 

SOME FACTS AND STATISTICS ABOUT THE SEASON SO FAR 

23rd placed North Ferriby United have won more games away from home (4) than play-off chasing 7th placed Aldershot Town (3). 5th placed Barrow have also only one four times away from home. 

North Ferriby United have only scored 18 times in their 30 league games played which equates to 0.60 goals per game. York City and Wrexham on 0.93 gpg are the closest to them. 

York City, Gusieley and Sutton United have only won once away from home. York's came against North Ferriby United on Boxing Day (0-1), Guisley's came on Saturday 21st January when they won 1-2 at Macclesfield Town and Sutton United's came way back on Saturday 13th August when they recorded an excellent 1-3 victory at title challenger's Lincoln City.

Braintee Town have the worst home record in the league with just three wins in fourteen games played at Cressing Road. 

Southport have the worst defensive record conceding 2.07 goals per game - they are the only side to have a record of letting in over 2 goals per game. 

WHAT THE BOOKMAKERS THINK? 

they don't get it wrong often do they?  

the current odds for a finish in the bottom four or outside available at skybet.com 

TEAM	IN	OUT
SOLIHULL MOORS	8/1	8/13
BRAINTREE TOWN	5/1	1/8
TORQUAY UNITED	6/4	8/15
SOUTHPORT	5/4	8/13
MAIDSTONE UNITED	4/5	1/1
GUISELEY	10/11	5/6
WOKING	11/8	4/7
NORTH FERRIBY UNITED	1/20	8/1
YORK CITY	4/9	7/4

The bookmakers currently rate the bottom four to be made up of North Ferriby United, York City, Maidstone United and Guiseley - although on current form the 5/6 odds of Guiseley finishing outside looks a good bet to me!

WEEKEND FIXTURES FOR THE CURRENT BOTTOM NINE ONLY 

odds available at skybet.com

Aldershot Town (7th) v York City 

A really difficult game for The Minstermen who travel to the current best form team of the division who have won ten of their fourteen home games played. York City are rated at 3/1 to pick up what will be an all important three points. 

North Ferriby United v Macclesfield Town (10th) 

To have any chance of staying up The Villagers will need to start to pick up wins especially at home. NFU are rated at 7/2 for the win.

Eastleigh (12th) v Woking 

The home side only have one win in their last six games played. Woking are available at 16/5 for the win. 

Solihull Moors v Maidstone United

A real six-pointer game. The Stones will not want to lose this one so it could end all square?  A home win is rated at 6/5 with an away win at 21/10 and the draw at 23/10. 

Bromley (14th) v Southport

It's been a mixed bag of results for Southport since the turn of the year. They have a 3-2 home win versus Wrexham and a good away win at Barrow along with defeats at Aldershot Town (2-1) and at home to Wealdstone (1-2 in the FA Trophy) and North Ferriby United (2-4).  Like Maidstone United above I think Southport would be glad to take a point in this game. Southport are 23/10 to take the three points here. 

Torquay United v Gateshead (8th) 

The Gulls had two amazing games against Forest Green Rovers over Christmas - they won 4-3 at Plainmoor followed up by an amazing 5-5 draw at The New Lawn. Unfortunately they have followed this up with three defeats at home to Boreham Wood (0-1) and Woking (1-2) along with away at Maidstone United (1-2). The Heed have play-off aspirations and are unbeaten in five league games - three of which have been draws. A home win is rated at 23/10. 

Braintree Town and Guisley are not in action due to their scheduled opponents Sutton United and Lincoln City being in FA Cup action. 

FROST & FOG POSTPONES MOST LOCAL GAMES LAST NIGHT

The harsh frost in the South-East area caused most games to be postponed last night and then some of the fixtures which did survive were abandoned through thick fog which starting to come down as kick off time was approaching. 

Hendon, involved in the fight for relegation in the Ryman Premier Division, will be cursing their luck as they were 2-0 up versus big spending Billericay Town when the game was stopped short after 35 minutes. 

Foggy conditions at Silver Jubilee Park last night - courtesy of @BryanRoberts72   

Two other games were played in the Ryman Premier. Harlow Town continued their impressive home form with a 3-1 win against Met Police with transfer listed Alex Read scoring his 150th and 151st goals for The Hawks - Junior Dadson scored the other with Roman Michael-Percil scoring for The Met. 

Wingate and Finchley will be pleased their game got the go ahead as they achieved probably one of their best results of the season so far in beating Leiston 1-0 courtesy of a Steve Wales goal in the 77th minute. It was only the Suffolk side's fifth league defeat of the season. 

Another club to benefit from a 3G pitch are Brimsdown who are currently sharing with Haringey Borough. They lost 1-4 to Hellenic League Division One (East) side Rayners Lane in the Middlesex Charity Cup. 

Leatherhead's Ryman Premier home game against AFC Sudbury scheduled for tonight has already been called off so the focus now moves on to the weekend games when hopefully the weather will have warmed up a little. 

RYMAN PREMIER DIVISION
SATURDAY 28th JANUARY 2017 fixturesAFC Sudbury v Merstham 
Billericay Town v Staines Town 
Bognor Regis Town v Grays Athletic 
Enfield Town v Burgess Hill Town 
Folkestone Invicta v Havant & Waterlooville 
Harlow Town v Worthing 
Hendon v Wingate & Finchley 
Leatherhead v Canvey Island 
Leiston v Dulwich Hamlet 
Metropolitan Police v Harrow Borough 
Needham Market v Kingstonian 
Tonbridge Angels v Lowestoft Town

SUPERB AFTERNOON FOR SOUTHALL AS TABLE TOPPER'S LOSE ONLY THIRD LEAGUE GAME OF THE SEASON SO FAR

This was only one of five games played by teams from the Spartan South Midlands League on Saturday as the harsh frost across the local area postponed most of the scheduled matches. The sun had done its job during the morning burning away the frosty on the pitch at Langford Road. It was in a great condition for the good crowd of 112 people who came along on a chilly afternoon in Bedfordshire.

It was an intriguing game in prospect as the table topper's, who had swept most before them this season, welcomed the league's FA Vase heroes in a game which saw 1st play 7th in the table. 

With Southall having one of their biggest games in their modern history next Sunday when Exmouth Town visit them for a FA Vase Fifth Round tie some people may have thought a few of their players would have their minds on that game but this was far from the truth. 

It was a contrast in styles somewhat as Biggleswade enjoyed lots of possession keeping hold of the ball with confidence compared to Southall's more physical game - they did look dangerous whenever they got the ball in front of goal and they did play some good football too. It wasn't a nasty game by any means but Southall had five players booked over the 90 minutes. 

The visitors took the lead on seven minutes when Anthony Page headed in unmarked at the far post following a lofted free kick into the box. Biggleswade equalised only a few moments later when a shot from outside of the box was deflected past Southall keeper Michael Power-Simpson to make it 1-1. 

Southall's Jack Bennett was the best player on the pitch in my opinion - A skilfull left footed player he was a constant danger on the right hand side of midfield with his forward runs and good passing. His scoring record of 16 goals in 28 appearances this season suggests he has an eye for goal too - He is a player who I think could easily play at a higher level of the non-league pyramid. He is wearing the number seven shirt in the video highlights. 

It was Bennett who made his side's second goal on forty one minutes when his inviting and impressive ball into the box gave Craig Tomkins an easy task of knocking the ball into the net to make the half time score 1-2. 

Max Howell made it 1-3 on sixty one minutes when some good passing on the edge of the box game him time to lift the ball into the net. 

Biggleswade never gave up and played some great football with Power-Simpson making some good saves to keep the score at 1-3. The moment when the ball hit the post followed by goal-line block maybe indicated it was 'just one of those days' for the home side. 

Southall have a home game scheduled against Broadfields United on Wednesday before their huge FA Vase game next Sunday. 

Biggleswade FC have a good chance to get back to winning ways in a massive local derby at home to third placed Baldock Town on Tuesday evening. They won a memorable game 2-4 at Roker Park earlier in the season. 

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS 

THE ONLY PLACE TO BE NEXT SUNDAY AFTERNOON

Southall's FA Vase game against Exmouth Town takes place next Sunday at Reynolds Field - it's the biggest game for the club since the 1986 final at Wembley Stadium when they lost to Halesowen Town. 

ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE WEEKEND FIXTURES

Here are the weekend fixtures for the Essex Senior League. If you're local to a game why not get out and catch a match?

ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE 
SATURDAY 21st JANUARY 2017 
Barking v Enfield 1893 
Burnham Ramblers v Clapton 
Eton Manor v West Essex 
Ilford v Tower Hamlets 
London Bari v Wadham Lodge 
Redbridge FC v FC Romania 
Sawbridgeworth Town v Southend Manor 
Sporting Bengal United v Barkingside 
Takeley v Waltham Forest 

RYMAN PREMIER WEEKEND FIXTURES AND PREVIEW

Billericay Town v Dulwich Hamlet 
The new look home side who recorded a 1-1 draw at Met Police in midweek will be looking to win this game to bolster their outside hopes of a spot in the play-offs. Hamlet will look to get back to winning ways in the league after slipping up against Canvey Island in their last game. They will be in a confident mood following their amazing 1-4 FA Trophy victory at Vanarama South side Whitehawk.  
Canvey Island v Bognor Regis Town 
Enfield Town v Grays Athletic 
Folkestone Invicta v Lowestoft Town 
Harlow Town v Tonbridge Angels 
Havant & Waterlooville v Needham Market 
Easily the game of the day as this is 2nd v 3rd in the table. A home win would lift The Hawks five points ahead of The Marketmen with two games in hand. Depending on Bognor Regis Town's result at Canvey Island it could also see them go back top of the table. 
Hendon v AFC Sudbury 
Kingstonian v Burgess Hill Town 
The visitors have not won in seven league games visit The K's won have won four of their last seven. 
Merstham v Metropolitan Police 
Staines Town v Harrow Borough 
Wingate & Finchley v Leatherhead 
Worthing v Leiston
Title chasing Leiston travel to the in-form Rebels but will the home side have one eye on their FA Trophy midweek replay at FA Cup heroes Sutton United? 

FIVE STAR BARKING MOVE BACK TO THE TOP OF THE TABLE

Match played on Saturday 14th January 

Essex Senior League title favourite's Barking visited Theobalds Lane last Saturday for a tricky looking game against sixth placed FC Romania. The Blues had slipped off the top of the table as they had not played a league game since before the ESL Christmas break when they lost 1-2 at home to local rival's Ilford - they had been replaced by Clapton who had won all three of their first games of 2017 against Basildon United, Stansted and Haringey & Waltham Development. 

As always there was a lovely warm and very friendly welcome to Theobalds Lane from John Adams who is the tannoy man and very loyal supporter of FC Romania who even played Paddy Roberts song 'The Ballard of Barking Creek' for the visitors prior to kick off. 

It turned out to be a afternoon to forget for FC Romania as Barking scored four times during to the first half through Petrit Elbi, Ben Higgs, James Peagram and Joe Pearman who lofted the ball in from a long way out with an excellent goal. It was a real physical game at times with some strong good old fashioned tackles being put in which was great to see - have a look at the video from 3m 41secs and right at the end of the game from 5m 58secs! 

FC Romania regrouped and played much better after half time but the result was never in doubt. The home side scored at the beginning and end of the second half but the fact Barking were taking the three points back to Mayesbrook Park was never in doubt especially when Pearman scored his second goal on 79 minutes. 

The final score was 2-5. It was the second time in 2017 they had let in five goals as they lost 1-5 at home to Southend Manor on Wednesday 4th July in the Gordon Brastead Memorial Trophy. 

The future looks very bright for Barking FC under the management of Glenn Golby and Steve Willis - the club have a great Academy scheme under Mick O'Shea with Max Watters recently selected to represent England Schoolboys. He came on as substitute in this game and has played six times for the first team this season. James Peagram's goal was his 33rd in league and cup games this season. 

Golby, Willis and everyone at the club will tell you there are many games to play with lots of twists and turns to go yet in the 2016/17 campaign but it's looking like Barking will re-visit Theobalds Lane in 17/18 to play Cheshunt in the Isthmian League Division One (North) - that is if The Ambers don't go up themselves! 

Some of the Barking away support on Saturday

FC Romania are next in action in an away game at Redbridge on Saturday who are currently in tenth place in the table. 

They blues welcome Enfield 1893 FC to Mayesbrook Park on Saturday where everyone at the club will celebrate and remember the life of Club President Ron Debenham who sadly passed away on Saturday afternoon aged 84 after a short spell in hospital. 

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS 
Featuring commentary and analysis from a loyal Barking fan. 

WHO WILL LIFT THE 2017 JOE ELLUL TROPHY?

Enfield Town fans may not know it but last season wasn't trophy-less as they did pick up "The Joe Ellul Trophy".  The Cold End started the competition for the 2015/16 season after the defender made the move between the two Ryman Premier Division rivals stating Billericay Town were a "big club" which many fans in North London took exception to. 

So in order to sort out who are the bigger club The Cold End created the Trophy and awarded it to the side who finishes in the highest position in the football pyramid. Ellul only stayed with The Blues up until the end of January 2016 when he moved to East Thurrock United helping them to promotion to the Vanarama South via the Ryman Premier play-offs.  

2015/16 - Enfield Town 80 pts (6th) winners, BTFC runner's up 71 pts (9th) 
2016/17 - to be decided 


With nine points currently between Enfield Town (currently 6th) and Billericay Town (14th) the games between the two rivals on Tuesday 7th February at Donkey Lane and Saturday 8th April at The New Lodge could be pivotal as to who finishes above who? 

Following the recent take over of the Essex club they have continued signing players this week. Christian Assombalonga (from Dagenham and Redbridge), Rob Swaine (from Bromley), Isaac Layne (from Alloa Athletic) and Tambeson Eyong (from Canvey Island) have all joined this week. 

Their scheduled game tomorrow at title chasing Leiston has been dubbed 'The Big Scorers' versus 'The Big Spenders'.

FA TROPHY SECOND ROUND TOMORROW

The games in the Second Round of the FA Trophy are all scheduled to take place tomorrow with, weather permitting, the following ties taking place.   

Worthing v Sutton United 
Tranmere Rovers v South Park 
Bromley v Welling United 
East Thurrock United v Braintree Town 
Nuneaton Town v Guiseley AFC 
Boreham Wood v Alfreton Town 
Barrow AFC v Matlock Town 
Southport v Wealdstone 
Gateshead v Lincoln City 
Dartford v Chelmsford City 
Kidderminster Harriers v Ebbsfleet United 
Harlow Town vYork City 
AFC Sudbury v Macclesfield Town 
Whitehawk v Dulwich Hamlet 
Chester v Forest Green Rovers 
Stockport County v Brackley Town

TEAMS BY DIVISON 
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE - 14 
VANARAMA SOUTH - 7 
VANARAMA NORTH - 5 
EVO STICK NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE - 1 
RYMAN PREMIER DIVISION - 4 
RYMAN DIVISION ONE (SOUTH) - 1 

South Park are the lowest ranked side left in the competition and are rewarded for their amazing run with a trip to Vanarama National League title contender's Tranmere Rovers who have been averaging 5,175 for their home league games this season which is a slight difference from the 103 The Sparks currently average in their Ryman Division One (South) home games who are currently unbeaten in nine league and cup games. They have scored 29 times in those games with Kieran Lavery in great form scoring seven of those - Skybet make them 14/1 outsiders for a victory at Prenton Park. Whatever the result it's an amazing achievement to get this far for all at South Park and you just never know with the magic of cup football! 

A NEW NAME TO BE ENGRAVED ON THE FA VASE THIS YEAR

Following Morpeth Town's (the current holders) exit from the competition on Wednesday evening against South Shields there will now be a new name on the famous FA Vase this season. The tie between the two Northern League Division One teams will be talked about by fans from both sides for years to come. The initial game played on Saturday afternoon at South Shield's Mariners Park saw Morpeth Town 2-4 up with only nine minutes left to play only for the floodlights to fail - South Shield's ex Premier League player Julio Arca had been red carded earlier in the game. South Shields have issued a club statement about the incident detailing the lights went out due to a catastrophic failure of the diesel generator that provides power for the floodlights totally independent of the all the other lighting within the ground and local area. Attempts were made to restart it which included a suitably qualified Morpeth supporter but to no avail so the match was officially abandoned at around 5.30pm. The club submitted a report to The Football Association with an independent report from a qualified electrical contractor together with photographic evidence which has resulted in the club being exonerated from any fault on it's part and nothing untoward found. 

The re-arranged match was switched to Morpeth's Craik Park with the visitor's running out 0-4 winners through braces from David Foley and Gavin Cogdan.  

BUILDBASE FA VASE 
FIFTH ROUND PROPER 
SATURDAY 28th JANUARY  

Cleethorpes Town v Atherton Collieries 
The table toppers of the Toolstation Northern Counties League Premier Division v currently third in the Hallmark Security North West Counties League shows this a cracking game in prospect. It's been a fortress at The Bradley Football Development Centre for The Owls this season - They have played thirteen league games winning twelve and drawing one - they have also beaten Bootle (who currently top Atherton's league) at home in the Third Round of the Vase. The away side will be no push overs and will be in a confident mood following their 1-4 away victory at Northern League Shildon in the last round. 

Bromsgrove Sporting v Bristol MF / Melksham 
The Midland League Division One side may play at Step Six of the non-league ladder but they are at least a Step Three/Four side in the making with the crowds they have been attracting this season. They comfortably won at Sun Sports in the last round and have an excellent home record - they are unbeaten at home in league games. The two Toolstation Western League side's replay this weekend after a 1-1 draw last Saturday. 

Crowborough Athletic v Coleshill Town 
Both big winner's in the last round - Crowborough won 6-0 at home to Eastbourne Town with Coleshill winning 0-3 at Thurlow Nunn League side Gorleston. The Crows are currently on an amazing run of form - they haven't lost since Saturday 3rd September when AFC Croydon Athletic won 1-2 at The Crowborough Community Stadium. Since then their form reads WWDWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWDWWWDWWWWW.

Hinckley AFC v Buckland Athletic
Another Midland League side in Division One Hinckley AFC (comfortable 5-0 winner's over Berkhamsted in the last round) entertain Toolstation Western League side Buckland Athletic (1-3 winner's at Chichester City). 309 saw Hinckley's game versus Berkhamsted so this should also be a very well attended game. 

Newport Pagnell Town v Sunderland RCA 
The Swans 3-2 win over Peterborough Sports in the last round was a real upset. The tie was an all ChromaSport United Counties Premier Division clash pitting mid-table Town versus the table toppers, title favourites and a team many people had tipped for a possible Wembley appearance in the final. Northern League Division One side Sunderland RCA (standing for Ryhope Community Association) reached the same Fifth Round stage last season going out to a home 2-3 defeat to Bristol Manor Farm. Can they go at least one better this season? 

Ely City v Sporting Khalsa 
The Robins had a memorable victory at Welwyn Garden City in the Third Round in a game many people expected them to lose. They followed this up with 3-0 home victory over Shepshed Charterhouse in the last round which sees them into the Fifth Round for the first time in their history. Sporting Khalsa are yet another Midland League side left in the competition (they are fifth in the Premier Division) and it's also their best performance in the competition. City are currently 17th in the Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties Premier Division - they have reserved their best form for The Vase this season.  

Team Solent v South Shields
Following their midweek win South Shields are now the 9/4 clear favourites to lift The Vase with all other sides at least 8/1 or more. Team Solent won 3-0 against Croydon in the last round and will be relishing wecloming The Mariners to The Test Park Sports Ground in what is probably the biggest game in their short history since formation in 2005. 

SUNDAY 29th JANUARY

Southall v Exmouth Town
Likely to be a well attended game being played at Reynolds Field on Sunday as Southall's landlords Hanwell Town have a league on the Saturday. The Middlesex side won an amazing game at Bradford Town in the last round scoring an equaliser in added time to make it 2-2 after going down 2-1 just moments before - they scored two more in extra-time to cap a memorable day for the club. This game pits two Step six sides together - Southall play in the Spartan South Midlands League Division One with Exmouth in the Carlsberg South West Peninsula League. 

TEAMS LEFT BY LEAGUE

STEP FIVE 
TOOLSTATION NORTHERN COUNTIES LEAGUE PREMIER (1) 
CLEETHORPES TOWN 
HALLMARK SECURITY NORTH EAST COUNTIES LEAGUE PREMIER (1) 
ATHERTON COLLERIES 
TOOLSTATION WESTERN LEAGUE (2) 
BRISTOL MANOR FARM or MELKSHAM TOWN, BUCKLAND ATHLETIC 
SOUTHERN COUNTIES EAST LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (1)
CROWBOROUGH ATHLETIC 
MIDLAND LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (2)
COLESHILL TOWN, SPORTING KHALSA 
CHROMASPORT UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE PREMIER (1)
NEWPORT PAGNELL TOWN 
THURLOW NUNN EASTERN COUNTIES PREMIER (1) 
ELY CITY 
EBAC NORTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (2) 
SUNDERLAND RCA, SOUTH SHIELDS 
WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER (1)
TEAM SOLENT 

STEP SIX 
CARLSBERG SOUTH WEST PENINSULA PREMIER (1) 
EXMOUTH TOWN 
SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (1) 
SOUTHALL 
MIDLAND LEAGUE DIVISION (2)
BROMSGROVE SPORTING, HINCKLEY AFC

CURRENT BETTING 
available at betvictor
SOUTH SHIELDS 7/4 
BROMSGROVE SPORTING 8/1 
CROWBOROUGH ATHLETIC 12/1 
ATHERTON COLLERIES 14/1 
CLEETHORPES TOWN 14/1
TEAM SOLENT 14/1 
All other 16/1 or more 

SOME RYMAN PREMIER NUMBERS & STATISTICS

ONE - ENFIELD TOWN and LEISTON have each only lost one game at home.

TWO - HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE have only lost two of their games on their travels. 

THIRTY-FIVE - HARLOW TOWN have let in thirty-five goals in games away from The Harlow Arena which is in stark contrast to only eleven goals they have let in at home.  

TWO - WORTHING are the form side of the division. They have only let in two goals in their last six games. 

GF 50 GA 42.....GF 44 FA 42 - Fine Margins!! - Two teams have very similar attacking and defending figures. The top one is for title chasing NEEDHAM MARKET. The bottom one is for relegation fighters MERSTHAM. 

2-1 - HENDON recorded their first win in nine games with a 2-1 win over Merstham last Saturday. The Moatsiders are still without a win on their travels in thirteen games played. 

EIGHT - WORTHING are unbeaten in eight games. They are presently only two points off the play zone.  

46.51% - WORTHING have won 46.51% of their points total in their last eight games. 

SIXTY-FIVE - Bottom side GRAYS ATHLETIC have let in the most goals (65) which equates to 2.5 goal per every game they have played. 

2/1 - HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE are still rated as the favourites for the title very closely followed by BOGNOR REGIS TOWN rated at 21/10 and Leiston at 4/1. 

SIXTY-FOUR - LEISTON are top scorers hitting the back of the net on average 2.78 goals per game average. WORTHING are second in the goal scoring league on 2.04 goals per game. They are the only two sides to score over 2 goals per game. 

TEN - Draw specialists are ENFIELD TOWN and DULWICH HAMLET who have each drawn ten games each. The Towners shade the draw league on a percentage basis - Hamlet have drawn 34.48% of their games played with Town on 37.08%. MERTSHAM on 34.61% also love a draw on 9 games in 26 played. 

FIFTY-TWO - NEEDHAM MARKET now have one more point than they achieved all of last season over forty-six games. 

SEVENTEEN - Matt Blake of LEISTON currently leads the top goalscoring charts - he scored four in their last game at BURGESS HILL TOWN. He is closely followed by WORTHING's Lloyd Dawes on FIFTEEN who is in excellent form scoring a hat-trick in his last two games against GRAYS ATHLETIC and CANVEY ISLAND. Ryan Moss of Kingstonian is also on fifteen goals. 

TWO - more signings have been announced by BILLERICAY TOWN this week as two players join from Vanarama Naitonal sides. Striker Christian Assombalonga scored a large number of goals for Waltham Abbey in the RD1(N) last season which alerted Dagenham and Redbridge to sign him last summer. He played 14 times for The Daggers and had recently joined Vanarama South side St Albans City on loan. He now joins 'Ricay on a permanent deal. Defender Rob Swaine has also re-joined from Bromley where he has been playing since leaving The New Lodge in 2013 - He Captained The Ravens in their successful promotion to non-league's top division in 2015. 

FOUR - Ryman Premier teams represent the league this weekend in The Buildbase FA Trophy Second Round. Three are at home to Vanarama National League sides - AFC SUDBURY host Macclesfield Town, HARLOW TOWN welcome York City and WORTHING host Sutton United. DULWICH HAMLET journey to Brighton to face Vanarama South side WHITEHAWK. D1 (S) side SOUTH PARK have an amazing day out and game at Tranmere Rovers as they look to continue on their memorable Road to Wembley. They are all rated as outsiders for the games - AFC SUDBURY are 19/5, HARLOW TOWN are rated at 4/1, WORTHING are 13/5 and DULWICH HAMLET 24/11. SOUTH PARK are 16/1 to win at Prenton Park! 

ZERO - The number of Ryman Premier clubs in the semi-finals of the Essex Senior Cup. D1(N) Tilbury's victory over BILLERICAY TOWN on penalty kicks ended the division's interest in the Cup. The Dockers join Heybridge Swifts, East Thurrock United and either Braintree Town or Chelmsford City in the last four. 

1,207 - DULWICH HAMLET have the highest average attendance compared to WINGATE & FINCHLEY's having the lowest on just 137. Hamlet's figure is more than every team in the Vanarama South - Ebbsfleet United on 1,136 have the highest average in that division. The figure even beats Vanarama National side's Southport, Guiseley, Solihull Moors, Gateshead, Braintree Town, North Ferriby United and Boreham Wood. 

THIRTEEN - Since the division went to 24 teams in 2013/14 no team has finished in the top five that has lost 14+ games. This means the stat show of the current top half STAINES TOWN (14) and KINGSTONIAN (14) won't finish in the play-off zone. HARLOW TOWN (11) and LOWESTOFT TOWN (11) can only afford to lose three of their remaining games if they have any aspirations of finishing in the top five - Of course every season is different so you never know? 

SATURDAY RYMAN PREMIER DIVISION FIXTURES 
Bognor Regis Town v Enfield Town 
Grays Athletic v Wingate & Finchley 
Harrow Borough v Canvey Island 
Havant & Waterlooville v Burgess Hill Town 
Leatherhead v Kingstonian 
Leiston v Billericay Town 
Lowestoft Town v Merstham 
Metropolitan Police v Folkestone Invicta 
Needham Market v Staines Town 
Tonbridge Angels v Hendon