HUGE TOP OF THE TABLE CLASH AT FORGE WAY THIS WEEKEND

It's a big weekend in The GCE Hire Fleet Peterborough & District League Premier Division as Warboys Town welcome Uppingham Town to Forge Way in a top of the table clash. 

POS	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF-GA	GD	PTS	FORM
1.	UPPINGHAM TOWN	21	14	2	5	60-26	+34	44	WWWLLW
2.	WARBOYS TOWN	18	13	1	4	63-21	+42	40	WWLWWW
3.	MOULTON HARROX	18	13	1	4	42-17	+25	40	WWWLWL
4.	STANGROUND SPORTS	17	12	2	3	47-19	+28	38	WWDWWD
5.	LEVERINGTON SPORTS	17	11	2	4	54-26	+28	35	WWLWWL

The visitors are top of the table by four points from the hosts who have three games in hand. Moulton Harrox, Stanground Sports and Leverington Sports all have a chance of the league title that Uppingham Town have won for the last two seasons. 

Moulton Harrox's next fixture is on Saturday 9th March when they host Uppingham Town. Stanground Sports host Oakham United (9th) on Saturday and Leverington Sports host Holbeach United Reserves (14th). 

WARBOYS TOWN RECENT RESULTS 

Sat 13th Jan - STANGROUND SPORTS L 0-2 

Sat 27th Jan - CROWLAND TOWN W 3-0 

Sat 10th Feb - STAMFORD BELVEDERE W 9-0 

Sat 24th Feb - Leverington Sports W 3-1 

UPPINGHAM TOWN RECENT RESULTS

Sat 6th Jan - TYDD FC W 4-1 

Sat 13th Jan - Sawtry L 1-2 

Sat 17th Feb - LEVERINGTON SPORTS L 1-3 

Sat 24th Feb - NETHERTON UNITED W 3-0 

LINK - WARBOYS TOWN v WISBECH TOWN RESERVES - JANUARY 2022

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH - THE BATTLE TO BEAT THE DROP

Since the 2020/21 season, when the club were unable to complete it's fixture list in the Vanarama National League due to the pandemic where their record was expunged which resulted in a fine and a 12 point deduction for the 21/22 campaign, it's been a downward spiral for Dover Athletic who are currently bottom of the Vanarama South Division. 

Jake Leberi was appointed as Manager in December - He has been player and Assistant Manager in previous spells at The Crabble. He took over from Mitch Brundle who had been in place since January. 

The Kent club have recorded just three wins from their thirty-four league games played which have come home and away against Slough Town (1-0 and 2-1) and at home to Aveley (2-1). They are currently on run of ten league games without a win and the prospect of a second relegation in three seasons is on the cards barring a spectacular turn around in form. They avoided the drop last season by goal difference of +2 goals. Weymouth (-19), Dover Athletic (-26) and Dulwich Hamlet (-28) all have 48 points from 46 games played. 

If Slough Town hadn't slipped up in those two games they would be fifth place instead of their current tenth position. 

The 24/25 season is likely to be the first time The Whites will play at Step Three of the non-league ladder since 2009. They finished fifth in non-league's top division in the 15/16 season where Cheltenham Town, Forest Green Rovers, Grimsby Town, Tranmere Rovers and Wrexham are now football league clubs from the top eight finishing positions.

Their starting XI in the recent 0-1 defeat at home to St Albans City including goalkeeper Daniel Jinadu (goalkeeeper recently signed on loan from Maidenhead United), Scott Holding (defender signed in December on loan from Watford) and centre forward Destiny Oladipo who has recently signed and started the season with Isthmian Premier Division side Carshalton Athletic. 

LAST THREE AND NEXT THREE 

Sat 10th Feb - Worthing L 4-6 

Sat 17th Feb - DARTFORD L 1-2 

Tue 20th Feb - ST ALBANS CITY L 0-1 

Sat 24th Feb - Chippenham Town (15th) 

Sat 2nd Mar - MAIDSTONE UNITED (6th) 

Sat 9th Mar - Weston-Super-Mare (16th) 

Havant & Waterlooville were expected to be one of the teams towards the top end of the division this season but it hasn't worked out that way and The Hawks are now facing the prospect of relegation to Step Three where they last spent one season in 16/17 when they won the Isthmian Premier Division. Since then they won the South Division in 17/18 and spent one season in non-league's top division. Jamie Collins started the season as Manager having been in place since March 2023 when Paul Doswell moved to a Director of Football role. He was sacked in September and former Gloucester City, Dartford and Lewes boss Steve King was appointed. He was sacked in early December and now Cliff De Gordon, Ross Betteridge and Richard Pope being named as Interim Co-Managers. 

Since the trio took over they have won six games from thirteen games played but they are still nine points away from safety - their record of one win from their first twenty league games may well be their downfall. Below is a form comparison. 

BEFORE/AFTER	P	W	D	L	GF-GA	GD	PTS	PPG
BEFORE	20	1	3	16	19-48	-29	6	0.30
AFTER	13	6	0	7	20-19	+1	18	1.38

They have just one win on their travels which came recently on the 1st January when they won 2-4 at Farnborough. Their starting XI recent midweek defeat at Eastbourne Borough included defender Kwaku Donkor who recently joined on loan from League One side Blackpool. Nathan Carlyle, also a defender, has recently joined on loan from St Albans City and Midfielder Callum Kealy who left Havant in October to join Eastbourne but returned in late January. 

Centre-Forward Muhammadu Faal, who scored 30 goals in 72 league and cup games since joining Havant in the summer of 2022, has recently left the club to join fellow National League South side Maidstone United. 

LAST THREE AND NEXT THREE 

Sat 3rd Feb - CHELMSFORD CITY W 2-1 

Sat 17th Feb - Yeovil Town L 0-1 

Tue 20th Feb - Eastbourne Borough L 1-2 

Sat 24th Feb - BATH CITY (4th) 

Tue 27th Feb - Hampton & Richmond Borough (8th)  

Sat 2nd Mar - Hemel Hempstead Town (13th) 

Eastbourne Borough are another club to change management over the course of the season. Danny Bloor who took The Sports to a 6th and 8th place finish over the past two seasons was replaced by Mark Beard who had been on the coaching team at National League side Dorking Wanderers which coincided with a change in ownership with the club. 

The new boss is Adam Murray who was appointed in early January. The below shows a comparison of league form since the former Mansfield Town, Boston United and AFC Fylde boss was appointed. 

BEFORE/AFTER	P	W	D	L	GF-GA	GD	PTS	PPG
BEFORE	26	6	5	15	29-49	-20	23	0.88
AFTER	7	2	1	4	8-12	-4	7	1.00

Murray has made a number of signings - Centre Forward Siyabonga Ligendza has joined initially on loan but now on a permanent basis from his former club AFC Fylde, Defender Moussa Diarra has joined from Barnet on loan having spent the first part of the season with Dartford, Australian Forward Finn Ballard-McBride has joined after spending time in the USA, Defender Pierce Bird is another join on loan from AFC Fylde, Midfielder Ollie Turner on loan from Aldershot Town and striker Jake Hutchinson has joined on loan from Scottish League One side Queen of The South. He spent time on loan with Eastbourne Borough last season when he was a Colchester United player. 

Alfie Bendle has joined on loan from Forest Green Rovers and is another in his second spell with the club having spent some of the 22/23 season on loan from AFC Wimbledon.

LAST THREE AND NEXT THREE 

Sat 3rd Feb - Bath City L 0-1 

Sat 17th Feb - CHELMSFORD CITY L 0-3 

Tue 20th Feb - HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE W 2-1 

Sat 24th Feb - Weston-Super-Mare (16th)

Sat 2nd Mar - Tonbridge Angels (12th) 

Tue 5th Mar - Hampton & Richmond Borough (8th) 

Like their relegation rival's have changed management this season. After his departure from Eastbourne Borough Danny Bloor took over at Park View Road in the summer when Warren Feeney left to join Northern Irish Premier League side Glentoran. 

Former Chelmsford City, Aveley, Braintree Town and Brentwood Town boss Rod Stringer took over as Manager in late January after Bloor's departure. 

Since Stringer has come in they have beaten Hampton & Richmond Borough (2-1) and had an eye catching 4-1 win over play-off/title chasing Worthing as well as draws against Tonbridge Angels and Taunton Town. 

19 year old Sonny Fish signed on loan from League Two Crawley Town has netted three goals in their last two games. 

LAST THREE AND NEXT THREE 

Sat 3rd Feb - TAUNTON TOWN D 0-0 

Sat 17th Feb - TONBRIDGE ANGELS D 2-2 

Tue 20th Feb - WORTHING W 4-1 

Sat 24th Feb - St Albans City (5th) 

Tue 27th Feb - TRURO CITY (19th) 

Sat 2nd March - BRAINTREE TOWN (7th) 

Just above the drop zone are Taunton Town and Truro City. Taunton Town have had an eventful season off the pitch with a winding up petition and transfer embargo recently lifted when money owed to the HMRC was paid. 

Truro City who have been ground sharing with Plymouth Parkway (just over 100 mile round trip from Truro) have recently announced a move to Taunton for the remainder of the season which is a 255 mile round trip - this follows a number of postponements at Bolitho Park. 

The Peacocks haven't won a league game since Saturday 9th December when they won 4-0 at home to Farnborough and in their last game they were beaten 6-0 at St Albans City. Their next three games against teams around their position could well shape what league they are playing in next season. 

TAUNTON TOWN LAST THREE AND NEXT THREE 

Sat 3rd Feb - Welling United D 0-0 

Tue 6th Feb - TRURO CITY D 0-0 

Sat 10th Feb - St Albans City L 0-6 

Sat 24th Feb - Dartford (18th) 

Tue 27th Feb - WESTON-SUPER-MARE (16th) 

Sat 2nd Mar - Truro City (19th) 

TRURO CITY LAST THREE AND NEXT THREE 

Tue 6th Feb - Taunton Town D 0-0 

Sat 17th Feb - Farnborough L 2-3 

Tue 20th Feb - Bath City L 1-2 

Sat 24th Feb - HEMEL HEMPSTEAD TOWN 

Tue 27th Feb - Welling United 

Sat 2nd Mar - TRURO CITY

CURRENT FORM OF BOTTOM SIX 

LAST TEN LEAGUE GAMES 

TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF-GA	GD	PTS
TRURO CITY	10	4	1	5	13-15	-2	13
WELLING UNITED	10	3	3	4	13-15	-2	12
HAVANT	10	3	0	7	11-16	-5	9
EASTBOURNE BOROUGH	10	2	1	7	8-20	-12	7
TAUNTON TOWN	10	0	5	5	6-21	-15	5
DOVER ATHLETIC	10	1	1	8	9-20	-11	4

LEAGUE TABLE COURTESY OF FOOTBALLWEBPAGES.CO.UK

THE PITCHING IN ISTHMIAN PREMIER DIVISION - BATTLE TO BEAT THE DROP

THE PITCHING IN ISTHMIAN PREMIER DIVISION

CURRENT TABLE - BOTTOM SEVEN ONLY 

There is now a seven point gap between Folkestone Invicta in 17th place and Margate in 18th place and a nine point gap between Invicta and Cheshunt in 19th place. There are many games yet to play but does this gap mean the battle to beat the drop is down to just five teams. 

FIRST WIN IN NINETEEN GAMES FOR A MARGATE TEAM WITH A NEW LOOK

It was a brilliant afternoon for Margate on Saturday as they won their first league game since Saturday 4th November with Ben Greenhalgh scoring a first half hat-trick in their 3-2 win over Canvey Island. Will this victory see Mark Stimson's side now kick on and move away from the drop zone? 

The Gate included right back Rio Davidson-Phipps in their starting XI who had recently joined the club from their opponents where he made just one appearance in their 0-3 home defeat against Enfield Town on Saturday 3rd February. He has also played for Bishops Stortford and Haringey Borough and started the 23/24 campaign in Scotland with League One side Cove Rangers. 

Another former Canvey Island player in centre-back Teddy Perkins made his debut for The Gate after joining on a dual registration basis from Vanarama South side Welling United. He made three appearances for Cray Valley PM at the start of the season. 

The Gate's squad has somewhat of a new look to it with Midfielder Mo Kamara who recently joined from Herne Bay starting only his second game. 

Winger Kadell Daniel made his fourth start in his second spell at Margate after joining from Horsham in late January. 

Midfielder Yaser Kasim also started having re-joined the club in January after spending the first part of the 23/24 campaign with Eastbourne Borough. He was with The Gate for the last half of the 22/23 season. Kasim is a full International for Iraq with 21 caps and has played in the football league for Swindon Town. 

Toby Stevenson, a left back and recent signing from Braintree Town, also started in the game. The former Leyton Orient, Billericay Town and Bromley was making his third start for Margate. 

The Gate's bench also featured Dominic Vose who has recently joined from Hastings United. The Attacking Midfielder aged 30 brings with him a wealth of experience having played for a large number of non-league clubs. 

Central Defender Lewis Knight who re-joined for his second spell with the Kent club from Ashford United in October was also on the bench.  

CHESHUNT HAVE ONLY SCORED ONCE IN THEIR LAST FOUR GAMES 

For Cheshunt it was another afternoon to forget as Cray Wanderers won 0-1 thanks to a Yahaya Bamba 83rd minute goal at Theobalds Lane. 

The Ambers including debutant's Bert White in goal who is a former Ipswich Town academy and youth player who has also played for Gosport Borough, Weymouth and Wimborne Town. He replaced 17 year old Woody Williamson, currently on loan from Ipswich Town, is away with the Scottish under 19 team in Croatia. Joe Rose who played in goal in the early part of the season is currently out injured.  

Cheshunt do have five games against their relegation rivals to play so this maybe key to their survival hopes? 

CONCORD RANGERS IN DANGER OF SECOND SUCCESSIVE RELEGATION

The big story for The Beachboys this season has been their pitch with many games postponed with 9 home games to play before the end of the season compared to Margate (5), Cheshunt (6), Haringey Borough (6) and Kingstonian (6). 

The Essex side have only won once in their last ten games which was against fellow struggler's Kingstonian. 

They lost 1-2 at home to Dulwich Hamlet on Saturday with former Aveley midfielder Kenny Aileru making his debut from the bench and scoring his new club's goal. 

HARINGEY BOROUGH FINDING GOALS HARD TO COME BY

It's been a really difficult season for Tom Loizou's side who have only 3 wins in their 31 games played. With the amount of games played and a 7 point gap to 18th place it's looking like Coles Park will be hosting Step Four football for the 24/25 season. 

They have recently signed striker Ben Allen who started the season with Chatham Town whom he scored for at Coles Park in December. He played for Aveley and Haringey Borough last season where he scored 11 league and cup goals. 

Since their 2-1 home win over Canvey Island on Saturday 6th January they have failed to score in six of their eight league games. 

BIG WIN FOR KINGSTONIAN AGAINST IN FORM ROCKS 

The K's escaped relegation by six points last season but this season the drop is looking more of a probability than a possibility. Manager Simon Lane left the club last week with his Assistant Tutu Henriques being named as Interim Manager. He made a great start as they won 3-2 against a Bognor Regis Town side who had won six and drawn one of their last seven league games. 

It was The K's first league win in sixteen league games. 

Many loyal Kingstonian fans are unhappy at the current running of the club which are detailed on the Kingstonian Supporter's Club X Feed. 

The club lost their Kingsmeadow home in 2017 and have been ground-sharing with Leatherhead (2017/18), Corinthian-Casuals (2018 to 2022) and Tooting & Mitcham United (2022 to 2024). From next season they have agreed a ground sharing agreement with Raynes Park Vale. 

CURRENT FORM OF THE BOTTOM FIVE - LAST TEN GAMES 

TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS	GSPG	GCPG
CONCORD RANGERS	10	1	5	4	11	15	-4	6	1.10	1.50
HARINGEY BOROUGH	10	1	3	6	4	17	-13	6	0.40	1.70
KINGSTONIAN	10	1	2	7	13	24	-11	5	1.30	2.40
MARGATE	10	1	2	7	10	24	-14	5	1.00	2.40
CHESHUNT	10	1	1	8	12	20	-8	4	1.20	2.00

BOTTOM FIVE v BOTTOM FIVE TABLE

TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS	GSPG	GCPG
CONCORD RANGERS	6	2	3	1	5	4	+1	9	0.83	0.67
HARINGEY BOROUGH	5	1	3	1	5	4	+1	6	1.00	0.80
CHESHUNT	3	2	0	1	7	7	0	6	2.33	2.33
MARGATE	5	1	3	1	7	7	0	4	1.40	1.40
KINGSTONIAN	5	0	3	2	7	9	-2	3	1.40	1.80

REMAINING FIXTURES FOR BOTTOM FIVE v BOTTOM FIVE

Saturday 24th February 

Haringey Borough v Margate

Wednesday 28th February

Kingstonian v Cheshunt  

Tuesday 5th March

Concord Rangers v Cheshunt

 

Saturday 9th March 

Haringey Borough v Cheshunt 

Saturday 16th March

Cheshunt v Concord Rangers 

Saturday 6th April 

Kingstonian v Margate 

Saturday 20th April 

Kingstonian v Haringey Borough 

Cheshunt v Margate - TBA

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES FOR THE BOTTOM FIVE 

Tuesday 20th February

Concord Rangers v Billericay Town 

Enfield Town v Kingstonian 

Saturday 24th February 

Cray Wanderers v Kingstonian

Dulwich Hamlet v Cheshunt 

Folkestone Invicta v Concord Rangers 

Haringey Borough v Margate 

Tuesday 27th February 

Concord Rangers v Hornchurch 

Wednesday 28th February

Kingstonian v Cheshunt 

The below shows the table as it was on 15th February 2023 showing Kingstonian were the only team in the bottom four who escaped relegation. 

DONCASTER CITY MAKE HEADLINES WITH SOME EYE CATCHING SIGNINGS

Doncaster City, who currently play in the Abacus Lighting Central Midlands Alliance League Black Dragon Premier Division North, have made national headlines over the past few weeks with some very eye catching signings. 

They currently play at Step Seven of the football pyramid but have signed Ross McCormack, Wes Hoolahan, Charlie Mulgrew and Scott McLaughlin. 

McCormack, 37, is a former Scottish International and counts Rangers, Motherwell, Cardiff City, Leeds United, Fulham and Aston Villa as some of his former clubs. When he moved from Leeds United to Fulham the transfer fee was £11,000,000 and then £12,000,000 when he moved from Craven Cottage to Aston Villa. 

Former Republic of Ireland International Hollahan, 41, was released by football league side Cambridge United in 2022 and is most well known for his time with Norwich City where he made over 300 appearances in the Premier League, Championship and League One. 

Mulgrew, 37, announced his retirement from the full time game in September 2023 with his last club being Dundee United. He is most well known for his time with Celtic and Blackburn Rovers. 

McLaughlin, 40, last played for Stenhousemuir in August 2020 when he announced his retirement. He has for a host of Scottish clubs including Greenock Morton, Ayr United and Queen of the South. 

Their playing squad also includes former Doncaster Rovers, Chesterfield and York City forward Jack McKay. 

WHO ARE DONCASTER CITY?

The club were formed in 2022 by football agent Willie McKay and played in the Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Division Two (Step 9) for the 22/23. They won the league title by 12 points last season and transferred to their current league for the 23/24 campaign. 

They currently ground share with Northern Counties East League Division One Armthorpe Welfare just a few miles outside of the City of Doncaster. 

They are currently in second place of the division and closed the gap on league leader's Dearne & District to seven points with a 3-1 home victory on Saturday in front of a very impressive crowd of 923 people. It was D&D's first league defeat of the season and City currently have two games in hand. 

City's only two league defeats of the season came against their title rivals who won 1-0 back on Friday 25th August in front of another brilliant crowd of 723 people. 

Dinnington Town, currently in third place, won 5-0 on Saturday 14th October. The home game scheduled for Tuesday 12th March is bound to be a special occasion. Before this they host Glapwell (16th - bottom of the table with just 1 win and 16 defeats in their league games played - they have conceded 100 goals!) and then travel to Kiverton MW who are currently in 14th place. 

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES - MARCH

Saturday 3rd - GLAPWELL 

Saturday 9th - Kiverton Miners Welfare 

Tuesday 12th - DINNINGTON TOWN 

Saturday 16th - ELITE AFC 

Tuesday 19th - Chesterfield Youth 

Tuesday 27th - STAVELEY MINERS WELFARE 

Saturday 30th - AFC Bentley 

ABACUS LIGHITING CENTRAL MIDLANDS ALLIANCE LEAGUE 

BLACK DRAGON PREMIER DIVISION NORTH

CURRENT TABLE - TOP THREE ONLY 

POS	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS	FORM
1.	DEARNE & DISTRICT	20	18	1	1	80	21	+59	55	WWDWWL
2.	DONCASTER CITY	18	16	0	2	72	15	+57	48	WWWWWW
3.	DINNINGTON TOWN	19	14	3	2	65	18	+47	45	WWWDWW

SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION UPDATE

POS	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS	FORM	PP
1.	REAL BEDFORD	27	22	3	2	96	22	+74	69	WWDWLD	102
2.	MK IRISH	24	20	3	1	75	15	+60	63	WWWWWW	105

For the second successive league game Real Bedford dropped points in the race for the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division title yesterday with a 3-3 draw at home to Biggleswade United. The visitors scored the equaliser from the penalty spot in added time in front of a crowd of 217 people at McMullen Park. 

Milton Keynes Irish continued their incredible unbeaten run of 23 league games with a 5-1 win over Baldock Town with 116 watching at Manor Fields.

POS	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS	FORM	PP
3.	LEVERSTOCK GREEN	26	15	5	6	58	43	+15	50	LWWDWD	86
4.	FC ROMANIA	26	14	5	7	66	47	+19	47	WWDDWW	83
5.	ST PANTELEIMON	25	13	7	5	50	32	+18	46	WLLDWL	85
6.	HARPENDEN TOWN	26	13	4	9	49	44	+5	43	WLLWWW	79
7.	LONDON LIONS	27	9	9	9	57	55	+2	36	LDWLDW	69
8.	COLNEY HEATH	25	11	2	12	37	39	-2	35	LWLLWW	74

With London Lions now seven points adrift of sixth place some fans may think the battle for the play-offs is now between Leverstock Green, FC Romania, St Panteleimon and Harpenden Town. The flip side of this is there are still many games to play so should The Lions, Colney Heath, Biggleswade United, Potton United, Tring Athletic or even Cockfosters in twelfth place put a run of wins together they could make it to the top five - It's an outside chance and teams would need to win most of their remaining games. 

POS	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS	FORM	PP
15.	STANSTED	24	7	5	12	33	49	-16	26	LWWLDW	68
16.	ARLESEY TOWN	25	7	4	14	27	54	-27	25	LLLWDW	64
17.	BALDOCK TOWN	28	8	3	17	54	72	-19	24*	LLDDLL	54
18.	CRAWLEY GREEN	24	5	5	14	34	60	-26	20	LLLLWD	62
19.	SHEFFORD TOWN & CAMPTON	22	4	4	14	29	64	-35	16	LLWLLL	64
20.	SAWBRIDGEWORTH TOWN	23	0	5	18	20	58	-38	5	LLLLLL	50

* 3 points deducted due to playing ineligible player on 19/8/23

At the bottom of the table there is only one relegation place this season which Sawbridgeworth Town currently occupy. They are still awaiting their first win of the season and barring a remarkable great escape story they will be playing at Step Six next season which more than likely be in the Thurlow Nunn First Division South. I'd say relegation is more of a probability than a possibility. Let's hope Manager Ben Taylor and his squad can at least get a few wins before the season ends. There next three fixtures are detailed below. 

If they can get a few wins it'll really put the pressure on Shefford Town & Campton who are second from bottom but looking at their results of late have only been losing by just one goal.

In midweek with five 16 year old players in their squad they went down 3-2 at FC Romania and yesterday they lost 1-2 at home to Stansted who recorded their third win of their last six games. 

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES 

Tuesday 20th February 

PREMIER DIVISION 

Cockfosters v Sawbridgeworth Town 

Leverstock Green v Arlesey Town 

GLADWISH CHALLENGE TROPHY THIRD ROUND

Codicote v Real Bedford 

MK Irish v Winslow United 

PREMIER DIVISION CUP QUARTER-FINAL

Colney Heath v Aylesbury Vale Dynamos 

WEST HERTFORDSHIRE ST MARYS CUP FIRST ROUND  

Tring Athletic v Berkhamsted Raiders 

Wednesday 21st February 

PREMIER DIVISION CUP SECOND ROUND

St Panteleimon v Potton United 

Saturday 24th February 

PREMIER DIVISION

Arlesey Town v Stansted

Aylesbury Vale Dynamos v Shefford Town & Campton

Cockfosters v Dunstable Town

Colney Heath v Potton United

Crawley Green v Milton Keynes Irish

Real Bedford v FC Romania

Sawbridgeworth Town v Biggleswade United

Tring Athletic v London Lions 

KEY 

BOLD denotes promotion to Step 4 

GREEN denotes play-off place where winners will be promoted to Step 4 

RED denotes relegation place to Step 6

THE PITCHING IN ISTHMIAN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION WEEKEND PREVIEW

BILLERICAY TOWN v HORSHAM

3rd v 8th in the table. The Blues lost their last home game to Folkestone Invicta and lost their last game 3-0 at Essex rival's Canvey Island. The Hornets are only two points off of the play-off zone with games in hand over other teams and are unbeaten in seven league games. 

CARSHALTON ATHLETIC v ENFIELD TOWN 

9th v 6th in the table. An important game for both clubs who have play-off aspirations. Town won their last game 0-3 at Canvey Island with Marcus Wylie scoring his 17th and 18th league goal of the season. The Robins have won six of their fifteen home games and have only failed to score in two against Hashtag United and Canvey Island. 

CHESHUNT v CRAY WANDERERS 

The Ambers are in need of wins to pull away from the drop zone and got a very impressive point at in form Bognor Regis Town last weekend in a 1-1 draw but are without a victory in four games. The Wanderers are unbeaten in four games and have only lost two in their last ten which has seen them move eleven points clear of the drop zone. 2024 is going to be a wonderful year for London's oldest football club as it's been announced  they will play at their brand new Flamingo Park ground from the start of next season. 

CONCORD RANGERS v DULWICH HALMET 

This was a step 3 fixture last season which ended 1-1 in the Vanarama South back in August 2023 in front of 331 people. Just two players remain in the starting XI's for the teams in their last respective games. Ricky Modeste scored in The Beachboy's 1-1 draw at Cray Wanderers as he did in the draw versus the South London side. Danny Mills scored for Hamlet in their 2-3 defeat at home to league leader's Hornchurch - a game which they were 2-1 up in until the 80th minute. Rangers are in real danger of a second successive relegation but are making a fight of it - they have won one, drawn four and lost only one of their last six league games. The defeat was an amazing game at Potters Bar Town which ended 4-3 with the Essex side 2-3 up until added time after the 90 minutes!

HORNCHURCH v HARINGEY BOROUGH 

Daryl McMahon has made a great start to his managerial career with the table topping Urchins winning 1-0 at home to Cheshunt and 2-3 at the aforementioned game at Dulwich Hamlet last weekend. The North London side are in real danger of relegation having been in the drop zone for most of the season - they have failed to score in three of their last four away games. Anything but a home win will be a big surprise here. 

KINGSTONIAN v BOGNOR REGIS TOWN 

The K's are bottom of the table and barring a remarkable turn around in form will be playing step five football in the 23/24 season. Manager Simon Lane has resigned in the last week after joining the club last season from Westfield and saving them from relegation. Tutu Henriques, who had been Assistant Manager, has been named as Interim Manager until a permanent appointment is made.  The Rocks have won six of their last seven games - Kingstonian are without a win in fifteen league games. 

LEWES v CHATHAM TOWN

10th v 2nd in the table. The Chats are nine points below Hornchurch and fourteen points away from The Rooks who have an outside chance of a play off place. The visitors lost 4-2 at Wingate & Finchley in their last league away trip - Lewes ended a run of three defeats in a row with a impressive 1-3 win at Hastings United last weekend in front of 2,712 people. 

MARGATE v CANVEY ISLAND 

It's been a real struggle of a season with Mark Stimson appointed Manager in early December but you have to go back to Saturday 4th November for a league win which was 2-0 at home to Lewes. They are now a run of eighteen league games without a win - they have conceded seventeen goals in their last six games. The Islander's up and down season can be summed up in their last two games - a 0-3 home defeat to Enfield and a 3-0 home win over Billericay Town. Sam Higgins scored two in the victory over Billericay Town which was his first start since early January. 

POTTERS BAR TOWN v HASTINGS UNITED 

Play off contenders Hastings United visit The Scholars who are in a comfortable mid-table position twelve points above the drop zone. Town won 0-1 at Hastings in September. The U's have lost ten games in their thirty played with The Scholars also losing ten in twenty-six games. 

WHITEHAWK v FOLKSTONE INVICTA 

15th v 17th - two teams who are just about safe from the drop being eleven and ten points above the drop zone. It was 1-1 earlier in the season and this could end all square as well I think. 

WINGATE & FINCHLEY v HASHTAG UNITED 

The North London side have really surprised many fans with many marking them down for potential relegation candidates prior to the start of the season. They have a real chance of making a play-off spot and are currently 4th in the table. The Tags have won ten, drawn ten and lost ten of their thirty games played - They have an outside chance of the play-offs but will need to go on a real run of wins to get up to 5th place from their current 12th position. They have had a good debut season at Step Three of the non-league ladder and as a well run club with a quality manager in Jay Deveraux will only go onto better things next season with a few additions to his already impressive squad. I think they'll be a few goals in this one.