THE PITCHING IN ISTHMIAN PREMIER DIVISION BOTTOM OF THE TABLE STATS

Many players, mangers and supporters won't look at league tables until at least ten games have been played but I always like to have a look especially towards the bottom of the table as it's incredibly important to get a good start to the season but it must be stressed not a necessity. 

Today we look at the bottom of The Pitching In Isthmian Premier Division. Below is the bottom of the table after eight games in the last four completed seasons - I've missed the 19/20 and 20/21 seasons out. 

The highest placed team relegated were Whitehawk in 18/19 who were in 11th place on 6pts so no team on more than 6 pts after 5 games have been relegated so does this mean four teams from currently 14th Wingate and Finchley downwards will be in the drop zone at the end of the season? 

All is not lost as Merstham (17th after five games) finished in 5th place in 18/19 and Bishop's Stortford (16th after five games) finished as runner's up in 19/20.  

THE FACTS 

18/19 - THREE OF THE BOTTOM FOUR WERE IN THE BOTTOM EIGHT AFTER FIVE GAMES.

21/22 - TWO OF THE BOTTOM FOUR WERE IN THE BOTTOM EIGHT AFTER FIVE GAMES. 

22/23 - THREE OF THE BOTTOM FOUR WERE IN THE BOTTOM EIGHT AFTER FIVE GAMES. 

23/24 - FOUR OF THE BOTTOM FOUR WERE IN THE BOTTOM EIGHT AFTER FIVE GAMES. 

OVERALL (75%) - TWELVE OF SIXTEEN TEAMS WERE IN THE BOTTOM EIGHT.  

2018/19 - BOTTOM EIGHT AFTER FIVE GAMES 

POS	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS	FP
15.	WINGATE & FINCHLEY	5	1	2	2	6	9	-3	5	19th*
16.	LEATHERHEAD	5	1	2	2	5	8	-3	5	8th
17.	MERSTHAM	5	1	2	2	5	9	-4	5	5th
18.	KINGSTONIAN	5	1	1	3	4	8	-4	4	18th
19.	BRIGHTLINGSEA REGENT	5	1	1	3	4	9	-5	4	13th
20.	BURGESS HILL TOWN	5	0	2	3	2	9	-7	2	21st R
21.	CORINTHIAN-CASUALS	4	0	1	3	4	10	-6	1	17th
22.	HARLOW TOWN	5	0	1	4	6	13	-7	1	22nd R

* W&F finished in bottom four but were reprieved from relegation. WHITEHAWK were the other relegated side and were in 11th place after 5 games on 6pts. 

2021/22 - BOTTOM EIGHT AFTER FIVE GAMES 

POS	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS	FP
15.	EAST THURROCK UTD	5	1	2	2	7	10	-3	5	21st R
16.	BISHOP'S STORTFORD	5	1	2	2	5	9	-4	5	2nd
17.	HORSHAM	5	1	1	3	5	7	-2	4	11th
18.	BOWERS & PITSEA	5	1	1	3	9	12	-3	4	16th
19.	CORINTHIAN-CASUALS	5	1	1	3	4	7	-3	4	14th
20.	WINGATE & FINCHLEY	5	1	1	3	6	11	-5	4	15th
21.	POTTERS BAR TOWN	5	1	0	3	4	9	-5	3	13th
22.	LEATHERHEAD	5	1	0	4	6	12	-6	3	20th R

The other relegated team were MERSTHAM who were in 13th after 5 games on 6pts. They finished in 22nd place. CRAY WANDERERS finished 19th but were reprieved from the drop - they were in 12th after 5 games on 6 pts.

2022/23 - BOTTOM EIGHT AFTER FIVE GAMES 

POS	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS	FP
15.	MARGATE	5	1	2	2	5	5	0	5	17th
16.	HASTINGS UNITED	5	1	2	2	5	6	-1	5	8th
17.	HARINGEY BOROUGH	5	1	2	2	6	8	-2	5	15th
18.	CORINTHIAN-CASUALS	5	1	2	2	8	11	-3	5	21st R
19.	HERNE BAY	5	1	1	3	7	8	-1	4	20th R
20.	BOWERS & PITSEA	5	1	1	3	4	10	-6	4	19th R
21.	WINGATE & FINCHLEY	5	0	3	2	5	7	-2	3	16th
22.	BILLERICAY TOWN	5	1	0	4	4	10	-6	3	10th

The other relegated team were BRIGHTLINGSEA REGENT were 13th after 5 games on 6 pts - They did have the worst defensive record conceding 12 goals in those games with Corinthian-Casuals close on 11 goals conceded.  

2023/24 - BOTTOM EIGHT AFTER FIVE GAMES 

POS	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS	FP
15.	MARGATE	5	2	0	3	6	10	-4	6	19th R
16.	DULWICH HAMLET	5	1	1	3	11	13	-2	4	11th
17.	CHESHUNT	5	1	1	3	4	6	-2	4	18th
18.	KINGSTONIAN	5	1	0	4	6	10	-4	3	22nd R
19.	HARINGEY BOROUGH	5	0	1	4	4	9	-5	1	20th R
20.	CRAY WANDERERS	5	0	0	5	1	10	-9	0	17th
21.	CONCORD RANGERS	5	0	0	5	3	15	-12	0	21st R
22.	POTTERS BAR TOWN	5	0	0	5	2	14	-12	0	15th

2024/25 - BOTTOM EIGHT AFTER FIVE GAMES 

POS	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS	FP
15.	CHICHESTER CITY	5	2	0	3	8	12	-4	6	????
16.	CHESHUNT	5	1	2	2	7	10	-3	5	????
17.	WHITEHAWK	5	1	1	3	6	10	-4	4	????
18.	CANVEY ISLAND	5	1	0	4	6	10	-4	3	????
19.	CRAY WANDERERS	5	1	0	4	5	10	-5	3	????
20.	HASHTAG UNITED	5	1	0	4	5	11	-6	3	????
21.	BOGNOR REGIS TOWN	5	0	2	3	7	10	-3	2	????
22.	BOWERS & PITSEA	5	0	1	4	4	9	-5	1	????