Friday, 8 September 2023

THE PITCHING IN ISTHMIAN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION WEEKEND PREVIEW

FIXTURES
Billericay Town P-P Dulwich Hamlet
Canvey Island v Whitehawk 
Carshalton Athletic v Concord Rangers
Chatham Town v Cray Wanderers
Enfield Town v Bognor Regis Town 
Hashtag United v Kingstonian 
Hastings United v Haringey Borough
Horsham v Cheshunt 
Lewes v Folkestone Invicta 
Margate v Potters Bar Town 
Wingate & Finchley v Hornchurch

BRAHAM-BARRETT, CLIFTON AND SCARLETT ON INTERNATIONAL DUTY
The first news of the weekend is that the Billericay Town v Dulwich Hamlet is postponed as The Hamlet have three of their squad away on International Duty. 

Craig Braham-Barrett and Adrian Clifton are with Montserrat for their CONCACAF Nations League B games in Barbados and at home to Dominican Republic. 

Miquel Scarlett is with Guyana who travel to Antigua & Barbuda before hosting The Bahamas in the same CONCACAF Nations League B. 

THE SCHOLARS, THE WANDS AND THE BEACHBOYS STILL WITHOUT A POINT 
Potters Bar Town fans will be hoping the sunshine we've been having this week continues into the weekend as they have a trip to Margate to look forward to. They are still without a point so far and were well beaten in the Emirates FA Cup last weekend at local rival's Enfield Town. In five league games played they have only scored two goals and let in fourteen. The Gate have two wins from their five league games and will be in a confident mood following their 2-3 FA Cup win at Hendon last weekend in which Sam Blackman, Fyn Rutherford and Steve Cawley scored. 

Cray Wanderers have only one goal scored in their five games but will be encouraged by their 5-1 FA Cup home win over Step 5 Newhaven in which Yahaya Bamba netted twice. I think the pacey forward won't be available for their match at Chatham Town as he he was sent off (second bookable) in their last league game at Hastings United. 

The Chats are the only side left with a 100% winning record but did suffer a big 1-5 home defeat to South-East Division Ramsgate in the FA Cup last weekend. This followed their amazing 2-5 win at Dulwich Hamlet in their last league game which has to be the Premier Division result of the season so far. 

Concord Rangers were well beaten by Isthmian North side Wroxham in the FA Cup Reply in midweek and travel to Carshalton Athletic in search of their first points of the season. The Robins have won three and drawn two of their league games and beat Isthmian South-East side Lancing 4-1 in midweek. 

WINGATE & FINCHLEY PROVING PEOPLE WRONG 
Lots of people had Wingate & Finchley down as relegation candidates prior to the season starting and although it's early days they've proved people wrong so far with three wins from five league games as well a good 2-3 victory in the FA Cup at Whitstable Town last weekend. Ruben Carvalho (who was with Kings Langley, Corinthian-Casuals and Biggleswade Town last season) has been in impressive goal scoring form for the North Londoners netting five times in six league and cup games. 

They have a tough test tomorrow afternoon as Hornchurch visit who have four wins and two draws from their league and cup games - Many fans still rate them as league title favourites with the talent in their squad. 

In last weekend's FA Cup game they were 0-0 with Step Five side Fakenham Town at half time but goals from Ade Yusuff (2), Sam Higgins (2) and Sean Scannell got them what turned out to be a comfortable win.  

It will be a bit of a change for The Urchin's boss Steve Morison at The Maurice Rebak Stadium as this time last year he was in charge of Championship side Cardiff City and had just seen the Welsh side lost 2-0 to Millwall at The Den in front of 13,010.

A crowd of 148 saw the game between the two last season which on a midweek day in March so with it being International weekend they'll be a definitely be a few more fans there tomorrow. 

FACTS AND STATS
100% WINNING RECORD (1 CLUB)
CHATHAM TOWN
100% LOSING RECORD (3 CLUBS) 
POTTERS BAR TOWN, CONCORD RANGERS, CRAY WANDERERS
NO DEFEATS (5 CLUBS)
CHATHAM TOWN, ENFIELD TOWN, CARSHALTON ATHLETIC, HORNCHURCH, LEWES.
NO WINS (4 CLUBS) 
POTTERS BAR TOWN, CONCORD RANGERS, CRAY WANDERERS, HARINGEY BOROUGH. 
SCORED MOST GOALS (13)
CHATHAM TOWN, CARSHALTON ATHLETIC. 
CONCEDED MOST GOALS (15) 
CONCORD RANGERS. 
SCORED LEAST GOALS (1) 
CRAY WANDERERS 
CONCEDED LEAST GOALS (2)
ENFIELD TOWN, HASTINGS UNITED 

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