RACE FOR THE TITLE AND PLAY-OFFS IN THE RYMAN DIVISION ONE (NORTH)

POS	TEAM	P	GD	PTS	PP	FORM
1	BRIGHTLINGSEA REGENT	40	+45	87	105	WWWLWW
2	MALDON & TIPTREE	40	+48	78	96	WWLWLL
3	AFC HORNCHURCH	40	+35	76	94	WWWLWD
4	THURROCK	40	+36	73	91	WWWLLD
5	HARINGEY BOROUGH	40	+33	71	89	LWWWWW
6	CHESHUNT	40	+19	69	87	WLLWWL
7	BOWERS & PITSEA	39	+30	68	89	WLWWLD
8	NORWICH UNITED	39	+8	66	87	WWLLWW
9	PHOENIX SPORTS	39	+3	66	87	WWWDWW

The race for the play-off spots is now realistically down to teams in the top nine of the division. Tenth placed Aveley probably still have a chance but with a maximum points total of 82 should they win all their remaining seven games it's a tough one - they have lost three of their last six league games. 

At the top of the table Brightlingsea Regent are nine points clear so depending on second placed Maldon and Tiptree's results they now need just ten more points for the title which will reduce should The Jammers and AFC Hornchurch drop points in their remaining six games. 

Fifth placed Haringey Borough are one of the form teams in the division - only Phoenix Sports have gained more points in the last six games. Their five wins in six has helped push them into the play-off picture with Cheshunt and Bowers pushing them all the way. 

Brightlingsea Regent's next two games are against Haringey Borough (5th) and AFC Hornchurch (3rd) so it could be a very interesting and exciting month ahead in the race for promotion to the Premier Division for 2017/18.   

KEY FIXTURES OVER NEXT TWO WEEKS

SATURDAY 25th MARCH 

CHESHUNT v THURROCK 

6th v 4th - this a real must win game for The Ambers and a massive play-off six pointer for both sides. 

HARINGEY BOROUGH v BRIGHTLINGSEA REGENT 

Another massive game for both sides as two of the form sides of the division meet. Regent need a win to cement their title aspirations with Borough needing the points for their play-off hopes. 

TUESDAY 28th MARCH

NORWICH UNITED v PHOENIX SPORTS 

8th v 9th - Defeat for either of these teams would possibly end their play-off hopes and a draw will be no good to either. 

SATURDAY 1st APRIL 

BRIGHTLINGSEA REGENT v AFC HORNCHURCH 

Another highly important game for the current table toppers - If they drop points against Haringey Borough and then lose this game it could see The Urchins the pressure on the home side will really be on. 

NORWICH UNITED v CHESHUNT 

Another play-off six pointer for The Ambers. 

THURROCK v HARINGEY BOROUGH 

4th v 5th in the current table or 11th v 3rd in the form table. This could be a dress rehersal for a potential play-off semi-final or even final. 

WHERE DID THE TEAMS FINISH IN LAST TWO SEASONS?

   

TEAM	14/15	15/16
BRIGHTLINGSEA REGENT	6th	8th
MALDON & TIPTREE	19th	7th
AFC HORNCHURCH	23rd(Prem)	5th
THURROCK	5th	2nd
HARINGEY BOROUGH	1st (Essex)	15th
CHESHUNT	18th	6th
BOWERS AND PITSEA	2nd (Essex)	1st (Essex)
NORWICH UNITED	1st (Eastern)	1st (Eastern)
PHOENIX SPORTS	1st (SCEL)	15th

Since two successive demotions in 2012 and 2013 Thurrock have been knocking on the door to get back up again finishing 6th, 5th (lost in the play-off final to Brentwood Town) and 2nd (lost in play-off semi-final to AFC Hornchurch) so could it be their year in the play-offs at Ship Lane. 

Both Bowers and Pitsea along with Norwich United will be very happy with their first season at Step Four of the non-league ladder - no matter where they finish I'm sure they will kick on and improve next season. 

RACE FOR THE GOLDEN BOOT 

Liam Nash of Maldon & Tiptree currently on thirty goals leads the way with Cheshunt's Jason Hallett, Aaron Condon of Brightlingsea Regent and Leon McKenzie (AFC Hornchurch) on twenty-six goals closely following him. Lamar Reynolds on twenty-two goals of Brentwood Town (20th place) who has spent some of the season out injured has arguably had the best season of all of them scoring goals for an under-performing side. 

Nash played for Hullbridge Sports before joining Billericay Town and then Aveley on loan during the 15/16 season where he was made Captain. He joined The Jammers from Great Wakering Rovers at the start of this season. He did play a trial match for Norwich City against Chelsea when he was at Hullbridge Sports - he scored a hat-trick in the game but nothing came of it. Could he now be ready to make a step up the non-league ladder? 

Condon has had a brilliant first season at Step Four having joined Regent from Eastern Counties League side FC Clacton last summer where he scored 32 goals last season. 

Reynolds is well travelled around Essex non-league circles having represented Grays Athletic, Heybridge Swifts, Aveley and Barking.