BIG WEEKEND IN THE PITCHING IN NORTH DIVISION - WEEKEND PREVIEW

Brentwood Town v Bury Town

Brightlingsea Regent v Bowers & Pitsea
Felixstowe & Walton United v Maldon & Tiptree

Grays Athletic v Enfield 

Heybridge Swifts v Stowmarket Town 

Lowestoft Town v Basildon United 

New Salamis v Gorleston

Redbridge v Witham Town 

Walthamstow v Ipswich Wanderers

Basildon United who are currently in fourth place of The Pitching In Isthmian North Division announced their new manager as Ajay Ashankie. The former Tower Hamlet's boss replaces Darren Manning who recently joined Grays Athletic to replace Mark Stimson. 

Ashankie joins from Southern Counties League Premier Division Fisher FC where he had been Manager since October 2019 - He is well respected throughout the local non-league game and was very much a fan's favourite for The Fish. 

His first game for The Bees couldn't get any tougher as they make the long journey to face league leader's Lowestoft Town who have won nine of their last ten league games scoring 34 goals. 

The Essex side are in good form also with just two defeats in their last ten league games. 

Bowers & Pitsea (3rd) go to Brightlingsea Regent (5th) in another important game towards the top of the table. Regent have three defeats in their last six league games and have conceded 10 goals. Bowers have won their last four league games in a row which has included a 2-1 victory over local rival's Basildon United.   

Stowmarket Town are still very much rooted to the bottom of the table with no wins yet. They have announced this week that the management team of Richard Wilkins and Alex Rossis have left the club. 

David "Bart" Lorimer is the new man in charge who has been playing for The Old Gold and Blacks this season. He has experience in management having been player/manager at Suffolk and Ipswich League side Bildeston Rangers previously. 

His first starting XI in this weekend's away game at Heybridge Swifts will have somewhat of a new look to it as players Scott Sloots (17 appearances), Jack Wilkinson (17), Taylor Hastings (2), George Bugg (no appearances yet - a recent signing Hadleigh United) and Jamie Bennett (7). 

Making the opposite journey to Basildon United are Gorleston (13th) who travel down from Norfolk to North London to face New Salamis (17th). If the traffic behaves the journey takes around 3 hours each way!