THE PITCHING IN ISTHMIAN PREMIER DIVISION - WEEKEND PREVIEW

THE PITCHING IN ISTHMIAN PREMIER DIVISION FIXTURES 

Billericay Town v Haringey Borough

Canvey Island v Potters Bar Town 

Carshalton Athletic v Whitehawk 

Chatham Town v Hornchurch

Enfield Town v Dulwich Hamlet 

Hashtag United v Cray Wanderers

Hastings United v Bognor Regis Town

Horsham v Folkestone Invicta

Lewes v Cheshunt

Margate v Kingstonian 

Wingate & Finchley v Concord Rangers

It's a huge game  at the weekend as the top two of The Pitching In Isthmian Premier Division clash as Chatham Town host Hornchurch. The Urchins are still unbeaten and clear favourites for the title as they are eight points clear of The Chats at the top of the table. I think that makes it a must win game for the Kent side.  

Steve Morison's side dropped points for only third time this season last weekend when they drew 0-0 at home to Whitehawk. 2022/23 South-East Division champion's Chatham Town lost at home to Hastings United (1-2) last Saturday and then were involved in a eventful 2-2 at Horsham in midweek. The Chats went 1-2 up in stoppage time only for The Hornets to score a 97th minute penalty kick to make it all square. 

CURRENT FORM OVER LAST SIX GAMES  

TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
HORNCHURCH	6	5	1	0	18	2	+16	15
CHATHAM TOWN	6	3	1	2	13	9	+4	10

Third placed Enfield Town host Dulwich Hamlet who after a slow start to the season have shown some good form which has pushed them up to ninth place. Hamlet recorded an good 0-2 win at Lewes last weekend with Luke Wanadio and Ryley Scott on the scoresheet. 

Town v Hamlet games tend to always be action packed - It was over ten years ago that they met in the Premier Division at Donkey Lane when Erhan Otzumer scored a hat-trick in a 3-4 win which is one of the best games of football I've seen. Highlights are below of the game played in November 2013 - Something which will change at the weekend is the crowd - 382 saw the game a decade ago. Town's average for league crowds back in 2013/14 was 385 and for the 2023/24 season is currently 540. 

This is a great improvement but nothing on Hamlet's which is 13/14 was 667 and is now currently 2,314!  

DULWICH HAMLET FORM COMPARISION 

GAMES	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
FIRST NINE	9	2	1	6	15	20	-5	7
LAST TEN	10	4	6	0	19	13	+6	18

Towards the bottom of the table there is an important game at Hartsdown Park as under new managment Margate host Kingstonian. Former Stevenage, Grays Athletic and Hornchurch boss Mark Stimson's first game in charge ended in a 0-1 defeat to Carshalton Athletic last weekend. 

The Gate are one of four teams currently on 19 points just above the drop zone with The K's in 20th place on 11 points and are yet to win in the league on their travels. They have scored 10 goals in their last 4 away games which were 2-3 defeats at Dulwich Hamlet and Hastings United along with a 2-2 draw at Haringey Borough. It was a goal bonanza in their last away game at Cheshunt which ended in an amazing 5-4 defeat. 

ENFIELD TOWN v DULWICH HAMLET 2013 HIGHLIGHTS