Banbury United are currently 13 points clear of second placed Coalville Town at the top of the Pitching-In Southern League Central Division and are strong favourites for the title - The Puritans have only lost two of their 28 league games played so far which came at St Ives Town in December (2-1) and more recently by the same score-line at home to Redditch United on Saturday 22nd January.
Andy Whing's side have two league games at home this week with under new management Biggleswade Town visiting tomorrow evening and Bromsgrove Sporting coming to The Spencer Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Crowds have improved for The Oxfordshire club by a huge amount over the last decade.
In January 2013 they hosted Barwell, Arlesey Town and Kettering Town in the Southern League Premier with crowds of 286, 125 and 147.
In January 2018 they only had one league game at home to Hitchin Town which was seen by 369 people.
This January they have hosted AFC Rushden & Diamonds and Redditch United in front of crowds of 1,055 and 921 people.
Banbury United still have 12 game to play so I'm sure their fans and everyone involved with the club will not be celebrating just yet!
PITCHING IN SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION CENTRAL
It was another amazing afternoon of fixtures in The Pitching-In Isthmian Premier Division as table topper's Worthing dropped points for the third time in six games drawing 1-1 at Corinthian-Casuals. Former Worthing striker Mo Diallo who only joined Corinthian-Casuals at the beginning of January after making 12 appearances the South-Coast club earlier in the season was the hero for Casuals.
Enfield Town moved close to The Mackerel Men with an impressive 4-0 home against Margate with Mo Faal netting a hat-trick which were his 35th, 36th and 37th goals of the season in league and cup games. Folkestone Invicta won 0-7 at Potters Bar Town with Luke Wanadio also scoring a hat-trick. The Scholars have announced the appointment of former Leatherhead, Concord Rangers and Hemel Hempstead Town manager Sammy Moore as their new boss last night - I expect their results to improve in the coming weeks and they could start with a win in midweek at home to Cray Wanderers.
Invicta, currently 5th, have games in hand over all of the teams in the current top four and after netting seven yesterday will be in a confident mood in their home game against Carshalton Athletic next Saturday and will want to avenge their 5-0 defeat at Colston Avenue earlier in the season - The Robins will be difficult to beat though and are in good from themselves.
At the foot of the table it's East Thurrock United and Leatherhead who still remain in the bottom two but The Tanners are now unbeaten in three league games with two clean sheets as well - Their 0-0 home draw against Bishop's Stortford was only the fifth time the Hertfordshire side have failed to score in a league game this season - All of which have been away from home at Potters Bar Town, Carshalton Athletic, Folkestone Invicta, Hornchurch and Fetcham Grove today.
MO FAAL'S FIRST GOAL FOR ENFIELD TOWN v MARGATE
Cheshunt have had an awful January in the league with four defeats and one draw in five games played. They host bottom of the table Leatherhead at Theobalds Lane next Saturday before their big Buildbase FA Trophy trip to Stockport County on Saturday 12th February. They were two points ahead of their local rival's Enfield Town after their 2-1 victory on Monday 28th December but now find themselves 17 behind with The Town in 2nd and The Ambers in 10th!
Wingate & Finchley (16th) won their third home game in a row with a 2-0 win over Bognor Regis Town - They travel to Worthing next Saturday having not picked up a win on their travels in three games - the last time was a decent 0-1 at Margate in December.
Brightlingsea Regent continued their good form under new boss Brett Munyard with on loan (from Dagenham & Redbridge) striker Aaron Blair netting the only of the game in their 1-0 defeat of Cray Wanderers. It was the former Ongar Town player's fifth goal for Regent and his third in as many games. Will the young striker, who clearly has a brilliant future in the game ahead of him, continue his scoring run in their next league game away to Bognor Regis Town?
Hornchurch continued their excellent form with an impressive 3-1 home victory over Lewes - The Urchins have won 9 and drawn 1 of their last 10 games with the draw coming away against table topper's Worthing.
The full line up of the Buildbase FA Vase Fifth Round is now known with Anstey Nomads getting a very good 2-5 win over Wroxham last weekend which completed the Fourth Round fixtures. Essex Senior League side Athletic Newham who were on a very impressive and history making run in the competition have been removed by The Football Association as they are reported to have played an ineligible player in their 5-0 win over Littlehampton Town in the last round. This is apparently subject to a possible appeal by the East London side but as it stands it's the West Sussex side who will entertain Brockenhurst in the next round.
The United Counties League have the most teams left in the 2021/22 FA Vase with Anstey Nomads, Loughborough Students, Coventry Sphinx, Newport Pagnell Town and Rugby Town still involved!
BUILDBASE FA VASE FIFTH ROUND DRAW
to be played on the weekend of Saturday 12th February
Coventry Sphinx v Whitchurch Alport
North Shields v Rugby Town
Loughborough Students v Abbey Hey
Anstey Nomads v Wythenshawe Town
Southall v Stansfeld
Hamworthy United v Tunbridge Wells
Littlehampton Town v Brockenhurst
Newport Pagnell Town v Buckland Athletic
ONE OF THE TIES OF THE ROUND IS AT THE DAREN PERSON STADIUM WHERE THE ONLY TWO PREVIOUS WINNERS LEFT IN THE COMPETITION FACE EACH OTHER
The 2021/22 Isthmian League Velocity Trophy is now well underway with most of the remained of the Third Round games due to be played next weekend. Enfield Town are the current holders of the competition and have done so since 2019 as due to the pandemic the 19/20 and 20/21 competitions were no completed. The best crowd so far will take some beating I think - 511 saw the Herne Bay v Whitstable Town local derby in the Second Round. The Oystermen won 1-2 but have since been removed from the competition for playing an ineligible player in the game.
It is thought this was forward Callum Watts who played for Grays Athletic in their second round game against Barking before moving to Whitstable where he played and scored in the local derby game. It's an unfortunate situation for The Oystermen with Herne Bay now going onto the Third Round and another local derby at Premier Division side Margate.
Could this be the first time a player has played in the same round of the competition for two different clubs?
red denotes highest crowd so far
blue denotes lowest crowd so far
FIRST ROUND
Bracknell Town 1-1 Westfield (102) - Away win 6-7 on pens
Burgess Hill Town 1-1 Uxbridge (120) - Home win 5-4 on pens
Chichester City 0-0 Hanwell Town (105) - Home win 3-1 on pens
Coggeshall Town 2-2 AFC Sudbury (109) - Away win 1-3 on pens
Cray Valley PM 2-1 Hullbridge Sports (62)
Faversham Town 2-1 Sutton Common Rovers (135)
Felixstowe & Walton Utd 1-1 Witham Town (159) - Home win 5-4 on pens
Hashtag United 1-3 Corinthian (141)
Herne Bay 6-1 East Grinstead Town (178)
Maldon & Tiptree 2-0 Aveley (168)
Three Bridges 0-0 Sittingbourne (51) - Away win 4-5 on pens
SECOND ROUND
AFC Sudbury 1-1 Cray Valley PM (98) - Away win 3-5 on pens
Champion's promoted to Step Four. Runner's up qualify for Step 4/5 play-offs.
# denotes league positions in last two seasons with RED denoting Thurlow Nunn First Division South (Step 6) - Stanway Rovers were members of the Thurlow Nunn Premier.
POS
TEAM
P
W
D
L
GF-GA
GD
PTS
PPG
FORM
#
1.
WALTHAMSTOW
26
21
3
2
70-21
+49
66
2.54
WWWDWW
3rd/3rd
2.
STANSTED
26
17
5
4
60-28
+32
56
2.15
WDWWWW
5th/2nd
3.
STANWAY ROVERS
28
15
6
7
58-31
+27
51
1.82
LDWLWD
3rd/7th
4.
REDBRIDGE
26
15
6
5
56-32
+24
51
1.96
DWDDLW
8th/11th
5.
ATHLETIC NEWHAM
22
13
5
4
60-32
+28
44
2.00
DWDWWL
2nd/2nd
6.
SAFFRON WALDEN TOWN
24
14
2
8
60-34
+26
44
1.83
LLWLWD
1st/5th
Walthamstow are look strong favourites for the Essex Senior League title currently being ten points ahead of their nearest challenger's Stansted. They have recently strengthened their squad with the signing of Timi Ogunrinde who netted 10 goals in 17 league games for Redbridge prior to his move.
Athletic Newham have had a very impressive debut season at step five of the non-league ladder with their striker Richard Kone currently on 37 goals in just 30 league and cup games! I'm sure we'll see Kone playing alot higher up the football pyramid sooner rather than later.
Athletic Newham are still going in the Buildbase FA Vase having an amazing run so far as detailed below. I'm sure there will be a bug crowd at The Terence McMillan Stadium when Brockenhurst make the trip up from The New Forest in February.
2nd QR - BEXHILL UNITED D 2-2 - Won 7-6 on PKS
1st Round - Holmesdale D 1-1 - Won 5-6 on PKS
2nd Round - PAGHAM W 5-3
3rd Round - Abbey Rangers D 1-1 - Won 2-4 on PKS
4th Round - LITTLEHAMPTON TOWN W 5-0
5th Round - BROCKENHURST - To be played on Sat 12th February
# denotes last two season's positions in league with RED denoting Division One North
POS
TEAM
P
W
D
L
GF-GA
GD
PTS
PPG
FORM
#
1.
GORLESTON
23
18
3
2
61-23
+38
57
2.48
WWLDWW
20th/12th
2.
MILDENHALL TOWN
26
17
6
3
64-28
+36
57
2.19
WWWDWD
8th/9th
3.
WROXHAM
21
17
1
3
69-15
+54
52
2.47
WWWWWW
5th/1st
3.
MULBARTON WANDERERS
23
15
3
5
48-31
+17
48
2.09
LWWWLW
1st/8th
Third placed Wroxham have only played four league games since the start of November with a combination of postponements and FA Vase games seeing them now have to play 17 games from now until the end of the season on Saturday 23rd April. The Yachtsmen were knocked out of the FA Vase on Saturday by United Counties Premier Division North side Anstey Nomads who won 2-5 at Trafford Park.
With Mildenhall Town having played 26 games it looks like either Gorleston or Wroxham for the title although there are many games along with twists and turns to come no doubt.
It's been a great first season at Step Five for Mulbarton Wanderers - The Villagers were playing in Division Six of the Anglian Combination back in 2009!
It's been a real transformation of form for Gorleston as there were fighting relegation in the 2019/20 season placed bottom of the table when the season was curtailed.
Wroxham have three important fixtures coming up - this Friday night they host fifth placed Norwich United before travelling to Mildenhall Town and Mulbarton Wanderers on successive Saturdays.
It's a huge night of fixtures in the Isthmian Premier Division tomorrow evening starting on the South-Coast as league leader's Worthing entertain fourth placed Folkestone Invicta. The visitors are eight points behind the hosts but importantly have two games in hand over them so it's arguably the most important game of the season for both teams.
Enfield Town (2nd) host Carshalton Athletic (9th). Town recorded a very impressive 3-5 victory at Kingstonian on Saturday - they were 1-5 up with 20 minutes to go with The K's getting two late goals. The Robins lost a nine goal thriller 5-4 to Cray Wanderers with Daniel Bassett netting a hat-trick. The game will see former Enfield Town fan's favourite Harry Ottaway returning to Donkey Lane.
Lewes (3rd) host Cray Wanderers (19th) having let a 2-0 home lead go against Brightlingsea Regent on Saturday. Two goals from Joe Taylor in the first 12 minutes should of seen The Rooks go on and collect the three points but it was a brilliant fight back by Regent who made it 2-2 with an Aaron Blair penalty on 81 minutes - It was the on-loan Dagenham and Redbridge striker's 4th goal in 8 games for the Essex side.
Bishops Stortford (4th) host Bognor Regis Town (12th) - The visitors have drawn 2, lost 2 and won 2 of their last six league games played. Stortford have been free-scoring in their last two games winning 5-0 v Brightlingsea Regent and 4-1 v East Thurrock United.
Other games of note are in-form Hornchurch (7th) at home to Horsham (13th) who won 1-2 at Cheshunt on Saturday which was a very good result.
Kingstonian (6th) travel to Haringey Borough (15th) who lost at home to a new look Leatherhead on Saturday - there should be goals in this one I think!
TOP SCORERS
Oliver Pearce - 26 (Worthing)
Muhammadu Faal - 25 (Enfield Town)
Joe Taylor - 22 (Lewes)
David Smith - 16 (Folkestone Invicta)
Jake Cass - 13 (Enfield Town) (10 for Bishop's Stortford)
Cuffley currently lead the Premier Division but it's Bush Hill Rangers just one point behind with two games in hand that are arguably best placed at present. They have played each other home and away with Cuffley winning 0-1 at Bush Hill Rangers in December and Rangers winning by the same score-line in September.
DIVISION ONE - CURRENT TABLE - TOP THREE ONLY
POS
TEAM
P
W
D
L
GF-GA
GD
PTS
PPG
1.
HERTFORD HEATH
20
16
2
2
69-22
+47
50
2.50
2.
ORACLE COMPONENTS
18
15
0
3
58-21
+37
45
2.50
3.
BUNTINGFORD TOWN
18
13
2
3
57-27
+30
41
2.28
Hertford Heath lead the way in Division One with Oracle Components five points back having two games in hand. Heath lost only their second game of the league season on Saturday as Hatfield United won 1-3 with Matt Noot netting a hat-trick for the visitors who recorded a memorable victory.
DIVISION TWO - CURRENT TABLE - TOP THREE ONLY
POS
TEAM
P
W
D
L
GF-GA
GD
PTS
PPG
1.
LEMSFORD
18
14
2
2
50-20
+30
44
2.44
2.
BALDOCK TOWN RESERVES
16
13
1
2
54-26
+28
40
2.50
3.
TRING TOWN AFC
18
8
5
5
37-42
-5
29
1.61
Baldock Town Reserves have two games in hand over Lemsford who are currently top of the table in Division Two.
DIVISION THREE - CURRENT TABLE - TOP THREE ONLY
POS
TEAM
P
W
D
L
GF-GA
GD
PTS
PPG
1.
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD ROVERS
12
11
0
1
62-5
+57
33
2.75
2.
LITTLE HEATH
13
11
0
2
48-12
+36
33
2.54
3.
BEDMOND UNITED
13
10
2
1
50-13
+37
32
2.46
Hemel Hempstead Rovers have an excellent defensive record with just five goals conceded in twelve league games played. They are being pushed hard by both Little Heath and Bedmond United who are currently in second and third place.
DIVISION FOUR - CURRENT TABLE - TOP THREE ONLY
POS
TEAM
P
W
D
L
GF-GA
GD
PTS
PPG
1.
BUSHEY RANGERS
14
12
1
1
89-31
+58
37
2.64
2.
HINTON DEVELOPMENT
15
12
0
3
78-43
+35
36
2.40
3.
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD ROVERS RES
18
10
3
5
59-45
+14
33
1.83
Bushey Rangers have had a great season so far scoring 89 goals in just 14 games which equates to 6.36 goals scored per game! Hinton Development side are close behind them and another free scoring side on 79 goals in 15 games or 5.27 per game. The top two have played each other twice with the scores ending 5-6 and 6-4 to Bushey Rangers. If it's goals you want to see go check out a game where any of these two teams are playing.
Billericay Town are still bottom of the Vanarama South Division with just three wins in their twenty-two games played so far. Could they be about to move out of the drop zone? In their last six league games things have improved with four draws, a win and just one defeat. Draws came against Maidstone United (2nd), Concord Rangers (16th), Ebbsfleet United (3rd) and Havant & Waterlooville (10th) with the win coming against Oxford City (4th) - they are unbeaten in five games!
The Blues travel to Slough Town tomorrow night and will be looking to add to their win's total. Shaq Coulthirst has been in good scoring form for the Essex club with former Tottenham Hotspur player netting three times in their last three games. The 27 year old has made 178 football league appearances for Leyton Orient, Torquay United, Southend United, York City, Wigan Athletic, Peterborough United, Mansfield Town and Barnet.
They then host table topper's Dorking Wanderers on Saturday - Could they spring a surprise?
There is huge game tomorrow evening at Cressing Road as Braintree Town welcome Welling United - There are six points between The Wings in 19th and The Iron in 20th so I'd say it's a must win game for the home side who recorded a good 2-4 win at Hampton & Richmond Borough in their last game played.
Welling United, under the management of Peter Taylor, have just two wins in their last ten league games with one draw and seven defeats.
At the top of the table Dorking Wanderers have opened up a six point lead thanks to their highly impressive run of winning eight games in a row scoring 30 goals in those games equating to 3.75 goals scored per game. They won 5-1 at home to Ebbsfleet United in front of a packed Meadowbank stadium - 2,142 people saw the game.
Could we see a team who only a decade and a half ago were playing in the Sussex County League Division Three join non-league's top division for the 22/23 campaign?
Maidstone United have dropped points in their last two games with draws against Billericay Town and St Albans City. They host Kent rival's Ebbsfleet United tomorrow evening which is a must win game for both sides?
Oxford City saw their manager David Oldfield depart for Vanarama National League side Weymouth last week. He took over his role with The Hoops in March 2020 and leaves the club in a great position in the league. Andy Ballard and Ross Jenkins have been made the caretaker management team at Marsh Lane for the next few weeks. Oldfield made a great start to life with The Terras who are currently in the relegation zone of the Vanarama National League - they drew 1-1 at promotion candidates and FA Cup headline maker's Boreham Wood on Saturday.
The Market Towns of Ramsey and Chatteris along with the villages of Warboys and Somersham are all within a close distance to each other in Cambridgeshire and all have football teams who have played at higher level in the non-league football pyramid than they currently occupy.
Ramsey Town, formed in 1880, played in the United Counties League from 1985 to 1997 and won Division One in the 88/89 season scoring 103 goals in just 36 league games. They finished second in 90/91 scoring 119 goals in the same amount of league games with only Daventry Town having a better playing record who won the league. The Rams were denied promotion to the Premier Division as their Cricketfield Lane ground was deemed inadequate for that higher level of football.
RECENT LEAGUE HISTORY
# denotes curtailed seasons
2017/18 - 6th in Peterborough & District Division One (Step 8)
2018/19 - 5th in Peterborough & District Division Four (Step 11)
2019/20 - 1st in Peterborough & District Division Three (Step 10) #
2020/21 - 1st in Peterborough & District Division Two (Step 9) #
2021/22 - Currently 3rd in Peterborough & District Division One (Step 8)
Chatteris Town, formed in 1920, joined the Eastern Counties League in 1966 and played in the top division until relegation in 94/95 season. In 1988 a crowd of 2,000 was present at their West Street home to see their game against local rival's March Town United who needed to win to clinch the league title. The Lillies continued to play in the ECL until 2001 when despite a fifth placed finish they dropped out of the league for financial reasons and moved back to The Peterborough & District League transferring over to the Cambridgeshire County League in 2008.
RECENT LEAGUE HISTORY
# denotes curtailed seasons
2017/18 - 16th in Cambridgeshire County Premier (Step 7)
2018/19 - 2nd in Cambridgeshire County Senior A (Step 8)
2019/20 - 13th in Cambridgeshire County Premier (Step 7) #
2020/21 - 11th in Cambridgeshire County 1B (Step 9) #
2021/22 - Currently 6th in Cambridgeshire County 1B (Step 9)
Somersham Town were formed in 1893 and were members of the Eastern Counties League Division One from 1988 to 2004 and reached the First Round of the FA Vase on four occasions.
RECENT LEAGUE HISTORY
2017/18 - 8th in the Cambridgeshire County Senior A (Step 8)
2018/19 - 9th in the Cambridgeshire County Senior A (Step 8)
2019/20 - 6th in the Cambridgeshire County Senior A (Step 8) #
2020/21 - 5th in the Cambridgeshire County Senior A (Step 8) # 2021/22 - Currently 7th in the Cambridgeshire County Senior A (Step 8)
Warboys Town, formed in 1885, played in the United Counties League Division Two in the 1950s and then in 1988 joined the Eastern Counties League from the Peterborough & District League. The early to mid 90s were highly successful spell for The Witches as they finished 3rd, 3rd and then 2nd in the Division One table to achieve promotion to the Premier Division in 1996. In 99/00 they got through to the 2nd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup beating Bury Town and Great Yarmouth Town before losing to Witney Town. In 2001 they were relegated back to Division One and struggled suffering from player shortages eventually withdrawing from the league in November 2003.
RECENT LEAGUE HISTORY
# denotes curtailed seasons
2017/18 - 12th in Peterborough & District Premier Division (Step 7)
2018/19 - 9th in Peterborough & District Division Two (Step 9)
2019/20 - 4th in Peterborough & District Division Two (Step 9) #
2020/21 - 3rd in Peterborough & District Division One (Step 9) #
2021/22 - Currently 1st in Peterborough & District Division One (Step 8)
For the 2021/22 season Warboys Town and Ramsey Town find themselves in the same league being the Peterborough & District League Division One which is at Step Eight of the non-league ladder. The Witches won 2-3 at The Rams earlier in the season - A big crowd is expected in the return game scheduled for Saturday 9th April.
Things are looking up for Warboys Town, who I visited on Saturday, as they are currently top of the table and looking at return to the Premier Division for the 22/23 campaign. They have been playing at their Forge Way home since they were formed 137 years ago and what a lovely ground and club house it is with a main stand and floodlights in place - I would say it's probably one of the best at this level of football in the country.
The visitors had made the trip down from Wisbech and have had a up and down season so far losing three, winning six and drawing two of their league games played. Wisbech Town Reserves had won their previous game 5-2 at home to Pinchbeck United Reserves with Dan Hempson scoring 4 goals so would of been full of confidence going into the game. Hempson was missing from the squad for this game.
This was a fantastic game of football with the added spice of Warboys being managed by former Wisbech player's Simin Flanz and Lea Jordon. Wizzy took the lead in the first half from a wonderful goal scored from way outside the box by Sean Jacka- I think the home goalkeeper lost the flight of the ball in the sunshine which had made a welcome appearance making the afternoon almost perfect conditions for football.
The home side pressed for an equaliser in the second half and scored with a 'Keith Houchen-esque' diving header to make it 1-1. The hard working Wisbech side came back and scored a second on the counter attack via Pawel Kaluzny to make it 1-2.
Warboys Town didn't give up and scored two more goal to make the final score 3-2 which was somewhat harsh on the visitors who grafted throughout the game and were unlucky not to take a point. They can take lots of confidence into their cup game at Premier Division side Wittering Premiair next weekend.
Wisbech manager Jonny Pearce said after the game "So proud of the lads who pushed the league leaders all the way today and is a big step forward to where we want to be. For such a young squad the boys held their own today, the only way is up"
LINE UPS
WARBOYS TOWN
Jamie Darlow, Matt Brown, Harvey Dearlove, Ben Duncan, Matt Duncan, Scott Duncan, Josh England, Riley Larham, Sam Latchford, Dan Short, Jake Thornton.
Subs - Joe Cobb, Karl Frans, Dan Moulds, Connor Withers.
WISBECH TOWN
Matty Harrison, Warren Anderson, Marley Barrett, Sam Bedwell-Bryant, Martin Chapman, Sean Jacka, Ajay Jolly, Pawel Kaluzny, Robert Lee, Krysztof Maisarz, Ricardo Popovics.
Subs - Tom Hubbard, Elija Ndikoyele, Arthur Senghor, Jo Wheatley.
