The big news in The Pitching In Isthmian Premier Division over the past week has been Steve Morison's departure from table topper's Hornchurch to join League Two side Sutton United. The former Cardiff City boss had been in charge at The Urchins since the summer and it's no surprise to see him move back into management in the football league. I'm sure the Essex club would of had some sort of contingency in place when this happened as a Manager of the quality and experience of Morison was bound to attract clubs from higher up the pyramid.
For now club Captain Lewis Spence has been named as Interim Manager with Vice Chairman and former Manager Colin McBride assisting alongside Jamie Southern and goal-keeping coach Kyri Neocleous.
The Urchins are still in a very strong position at the top of the table being seven points clear at the top of the table with a hugely talented impressive squad but one thing to look at is their record last season as shown below where they were top of the table three points clear of Cray Wanderers who had played 25 games) with eventual champion's Bishop's Stortford five points back having played 22 games.
| SEASON | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | G.S.P.G | G.C.P.G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22/23 | 22 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 53 | 24 | +29 | 46 | 2.41 | 1.09 |
| 23/24 | 22 | 16 | 5 | 1 | 57 | 17 | +40 | 53 | 2.59 | 0.77 |
The table topper's next game is ironically an away trip to Carshalton Athletic who are historically Sutton United's rivals as their War Memorial Sports Ground is just over two miles away from Gander Green Lane where Morison will be taking charge of The U's for their home game against Barrow AFC.
They then have a tough away midweek trip to play-off contender's Billericay Town followed by a home game against Concord Rangers on Saturday 20th January. The following weekend they travel to Enfield Town who are another team with hopes of a play-off place or maybe more?
Hornchurch's local rival's Aveley who beat them in the play-off final last season made a great start to their first season at Step Two but a run of nine games without a win has seen them drop down the table and seen some player movement from Parkside. They have got back to winning ways recently with two wins in a row against Dover Athletic and Welling United.
Two players have joined Isthmian Premier Division clubs on dual-registration with forward Kai Brown going to Canvey Island and defender Tommy Davis at Billericay Town. Dara Dada and Tom Stephen has also departed The Millers.
Potters Bar Town and Wingate & Finchley are the form clubs of the division over the last six games. The Scholars have four wins, one draw and one defeat which included an impressive 5-0 home win over Hashtag United on Tuesday where Ore Bello and Darnell Goather-Braithwaite both scored twice.
The Tags who have had a brilliant debut season at Step Three had Josh Strizovic in goal for his first start since early December following 17 year old Ted Curd's return to Chelsea. The Premier League side have recalled Curd from his loan spell where he made 16 appearances for Jay Deveraux's side and impressed many fans with his performances.
Strizovic, 22, has rejoined on loan from Vanarama National League side Dagenham & Redbridge until the end of the current season. As well as six starts for The Tags in his previous loan spell he played six times for Folkestone Invicta earlier in the season which included a 3-3 draw at Potters Bar Town.
Wingate & Finchley have been the real surprise team of the season so far - they have also won four of their last six league games.
At the foot of the table Concord Ranger's pitch problems continue with games against Enfield Town (scheduled for Saturday 6th) and Cheshunt (Tues 9th) both called off. The Beachboys have only played 17 league games compared to most clubs between 22 and 24.
Their game at the weekend should be on as they make the journey to Margate who have a 3G pitch.
Dulwich Hamlet's weekend fixture at home to Hashtag United drew a crowd of 3,334 people at Champion Hill which was full to capacity for the second league game this season - Around 300 people were apparently turned away and couldn't get in. The figure was more than the League One game between Burton Albion and Wycombe Wanderers (3,044) and League Two games at Harrogate Town (3,137) and Salford City (2,355).
If the South London side can increase the capacity at their home ground the sky really could be the limit - Of course that's easier said than done!
RECENT RESULTS & FORTHCOMING FIXTURES
SATURDAY 6th JANUARY
Bognor Regis Town 2-1 Chatham Town (891)
Cheshunt 2-3 Hastings United (503)
Cray Wanderers 1-1 Lewes (343)
Dulwich Hamlet 2-1 Hashtag United (3,334)
Folkestone Invicta 1-1 Wingate & Finchley (586)
Haringey Borough 2-1 Canvey Island (470)
Hornchurch 1-1 Horsham (786)
Kingstonian 1-3 Billericay Town (219)
Whitehawk 3-2 Margate (391)
TUESDAY 9th JANUARY
Bognor Regis Town 2-1 Cray Wanderers (434)
Enfield Town 1-0 Haringey Borough (510)
Potters Bar Town 5-0 Hashtag United (251)
SATURDAY 13th JANUARY
Billericay Town v Cray Wanderers
Canvey Island v Kingstonian
Carshalton Athletic v Hornchurch
Chatham Town v Cheshunt
Enfield Town v Folkestone Invicta
Hashtag United v Bognor Regis Town
Hastings United v Dulwich Hamlet
Lewes v Potters Bar Town
Margate v Concord Rangers
Wingate & Finchley v Whitehawk
MONDAY 15th JANUARY
Hashtag United v Lewes
TUESDAY 16th JANUARY
Billericay Town v Hornchurch
Bognor Regis Town v Wingate & Finchley
Cheshunt v Margate
Concord Rangers v Potters Bar Town
Folkestone Invicta v Cray Wanderers
Horsham v Enfield Town
Whitehawk v Kingstonian
SATURDAY 19th JANUARY
Billericay Town v Lewes
Canvey Island v Horsham
Carshalton Athletic v Hastings United
Haringey Borough v Folkestone Invicta
Hashtag United v Enfield Town
Hornchurch v Concord Rangers
Kingstonian v Cheshunt
Margate v Bognor Regis Town
Potters Bar Town v Dulwich Hamlet
Whitehawk v Cray Wanderers
Wingate & Finchley v Chatham Town
TUESDAY 23rd JANUARY
Canvey Island v Folkestone Invicta
Lewes v Horsham
WEDNESDAY 24th JANUARY
Kingstonian v Concord Rangers
SATURDAY 27th JANUARY
Bognor Regis Town v Billericay Town
Chatham Town v Canvey Island
Cheshunt v Whitehawk
Concord Rangers v Kingstonian
Cray Wanderers v Wingate & Finchley
Dulwich Hamlet v Haringey Borough
Enfield Town v Hornchurch
Folkestone Invicta v Carshalton Athletic
Hastings United v Hashtag United
Horsham v Potters Bar Town
Lewes v Margate
TUESDAY 30th JANUARY
Bognor Regis Town v Whitehawk
Chatham Town v Hashtag United
Cheshunt v Potters Bar Town
Concord Rangers v Haringey Borough
Dulwich Hamlet v Wingate & Finchley
Enfield Town v Billericay Town
Folkestone Invicta v Hornchurch
Hastings United v Margate
Horsham v Kingstonian
Lewes v Carshalton Athletic
WEDNESDAY 31st JANUARY
Cray Wanderers v Canvey Island
TABLES COURTESY OF FOOTBALLWEBPAGES.CO.UK
No comments:
Post a Comment