BOSTIK LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION - THE SEASON SO FAR

It's no surprise to see big spending Billericay Town top the Bostik Premier after teams have played six, seven and eight games - since their opening day defeat against Kingstonian they have won all six of their league games played scoring twenty-one goals and letting in just three. Hendon, who finished in eighteenth place last season, are in second place and have had a fantastic start to their campaign winning five of their seven games. They are followed on goal difference by Leiston (the only side left unbeaten) and Wingate & Finchley who continue to defy the odds by competing with the bigger clubs in the division. Harrow Borough who were reprieved from relegation last year are another side making a decent start currently placed in fifth position winning four of their seven games. Just eight points separate 1st and 12th position and then nine points between 12th and bottom of the table so for many teams it's still all to play for.

Worthing are bottom but their game on Sunday against Staines Town could be a turning point as they were 0-2 down with just twenty minutes left against Staines Town - goals in the 74th and 82nd minute secured their first point of the season. John Lock is interim manager at this time following the resignation of Gary Elphick after their 0-5 loss to Margate on Saturday 9th September. They continue to be play their home game at Bognor Regis Town's ground due to problems with the 3G pitch at The Bibby Financial Services Stadium which are hopefully going to be rectified very soon. 

Just goalkeeper Lucas Covolan along with Rueben Denyer-Schneider and Matt Boiling remained in Worthing's starting line up against Staines Town compared to their opening day game against Metropolitan Police. 

If you look at Staines Town results it's an indication at how close the race for the play-offs could be - they won their first two home games 5-0 v Kingstonian and then 6-0 v Tooting and Mitcham United followed by a 0-5 defeat to Wingate and Finchley. I think each team on their day can beat anyone. 

Tooting are the only other side left without a victory alongside Worthing. The 2017 Division One (South) champions have shown how difficult the jump up from Step 4 to Step 3 is big one - D1 (S) play-off winner's Dorking Wanderers have two wins from seven games with D1 (N) play-off winner's Thurrock also on two wins from seven. Brightlingsea Regent, D1 (N) champions, have made the best start for the promoted sides winning three, drawing two and losing three of their eight games played. They were 3-1 down to Merstham in their last game but two goals in the 80th and 88th minute from Tom Richardson made it all square at 3-3.

It doesn't get any easier for Tooting and Mitcham United as in their next game they travel to Billericay Town. 

Jake Robinson of Billericay Town currently leads the goal scoring charts on seven scored - he is closely followed by Matt Briggs of Dorking Wanderers, his team-mate Adam Cunnington, Ryan Hall of Merstham and Niko Muir of Hendon on six goals each. Muir's six goals have come in two hat-tricks against Enfield Town and Harrow Borough. 

Leatherhead have lost the services of striker Chike Kandi who has moved to Vanarama National League title challenger's Dagenham and Redbridge for an undisclosed fee. Kandi, 21, only joined The Tanners in pre-season after spending part of last season with Woking where he made sixteen appearances scoring three goals. He scored six goals for Leatherhead including a hat-trick against Cray Valley PM in the FA Cup. The former Birmingham City, West Bromwich Albion, Chelsea and Brighton & HA academy player clearly has potential and is just the player who I think will progress and perform well under John Still at The Daggers. Watch this space - I think he'll start scoring for them straight away when he makes his debut for his new club. 

SATURDAY 23rd SEPTEMBER FIXTURES
Billericay Town v Tooting & Mitcham United 
Burgess Hill Town v Tonbridge Angels 
Dorking Wanderers v Brightlingsea Regent 
Dulwich Hamlet v Leatherhead
Folkestone Invicta v Hendon 
Kingstonian v Harlow Town 
Leiston v Metropolitan Police 
Margate v Harrow Borough 
Needham Market v Enfield Town 
Staines Town v Lowestoft Town 
Thurrock v Merstham 
Wingate & Finchley v Worthing

SOME FACTS AND STATISTICS

UNDEFEATED - LEISTON.
NO WINS - WORTHING and TOOTING & MITCHAM UNITED. 
NO HOME DEFEATS - HENDON, BURGESS HILL TOWN, LEISTON, HARROW BOROUGH, ENFIELD TOWN and MARGATE. 
* Hendon have played three home games scoring ten goals and letting in none. 
NO AWAY DEFEATS - BILLERICAY TOWN, LEISTON, DULWICH HAMLET, NEEDHAM MARKET and FOLKESTONE INVICTA. 
NO HOME WINS - TOOTING & MITCHAM UNITED and WORTHING. 
NO AWAY WINS - STAINES TOWN, TONBRIDGE ANGELS, HARLOW TOWN, BURGESS HILL TOWN, TOOTING & MITCHAM UNITED, DORKING WANDERERS, THURROCK and WORTHING.  
BEST POINTS PER GAMES - 2.57 BILLERICAY TOWN  
* Last season's Champion's Havant & Waterlooville had a ppg of 2.04.