THE BATTLE TO BEAT THE DROP FROM THE VANARAMA NATIONAL SOUTH HOTTING UP

 

Just six points currently separate Billericay Town in the drop zone and Braintree Town in 15th place in the Vanarama South Division - There is only one relegation place this season and the battle to stay out of finishing in the drop zone in really hotting up. 

Up until the end of January Billericay Town had only won three games out of twenty-four played but since have won four of their last seven played with The Blues currently on a run of three wins in a row. 

Welling United parted recently parted company with former England boss Peter Taylor with former Northern Ireland International Warren Feeney the new man in charge at Park View Road. His last management job was with Bulgarian second tier side Pirin Blagoevgrad whom he left in December 2021. He has also been in charge of both Linfield and Ards in Northern Ireland as well as a short spell in Wales with Newport County. 

The Wings won an important game 1-0 at home to Chelmsford City on Saturday and Feeney has made a number of new signings for the club - 

Goalkeeper Coniah Boyce-Clarke joins on loan from Championship side Reading.

Ben Margetson (centre-back) and Marcus Sablier (left midfield) join on loan from National League side Bormley. 

Jamie Sendles-White joins following a short spell with Maidenhead United in the National League - The former Northern Ireland u19, u20 and u21 International played for League Two side Crawley Town in the 19/20 season. 

Alfie Matthews is an interesting signing from Essex Senior League side FC Clacton. The 20 year old forward came through the academy ranks at Arsenal but was released by The Gunners in September 2020. He was linked with a move to Italy but eventually joined Crystal Palace where he played for their u23 side in the Premier League 2. He was released by The Eagles in the summer of 2021 and after a spell out with an injury started playing for FC Clacton in December where he made 12 appearances and scored 3 goals.

CURRENT FORM GRAPH - POINTS WON FROM LAST EIGHTEEN ON OFFER

Could Chelmsford City who have gone so close to promotion being involved in the play-offs so many times since joining the division in 2008 drop back to step three? They have lost their last six games in a row. Their game at home to mid-table Hungerford Town on Saturday is a really important one for the club. 

NEXT FIXTURES INVOLVING THE BOTTOM SEVEN 

TUESDAY 22nd MARCH

Concord Rangers v St Albans City (8th) 

SATURDAY 26th MARCH 

Chelmsford City v Hungerford Town (11th)

Concord Rangers v Dulwich Hamlet (7th) 

Eastbourne Borough (6th) v Bath City 

Havant & Waterlooville (9th) v Billericay Town 

Hemel Hempstead Town (13th) v Tonbridge Angels 

Slough Town (12th) v Braintree Town 

SATURDAY 2nd APRIL 

Bath City v Dulwich Hamlet (7th) 

Billericay Town v Chippenham Town (10th) 

Braintree Town v Hampton & Richmond Borough (14th) 

Eastbourne Borough (6th) v Concord Rangers 

Hemel Hempstead Town (13th) v Chelmsford City 

Tonbridge Angels v Welling United 

table courtesy of footballwebpages.co.uk