A South Central Boxing Day

Here’s our Pitching In Isthmian South Central preview, in chronological order!

Noon

We start in Portsmouth, where Moneyfields, victorious in that crazy match against Sutton Common Rovers on Saturday, host Horndean, the Deans still without a manager as we write. Fifteenth versus fourteenth in the Deans favour, the Moneys have four wins from six, whilst their visitors have mixed some fine wins with some rather bizarre defeats, the last of them eight-nil against Uxbridge. 

Westfield welcome Ashford Town to Woking. Field have gone five matches without a win- although that run does include three draws- whilst the Tangerines picked up a first win in twelve last time out and will hope to further narrow the six point gap between themselves and safety.

1PM

Bottom side Badshot Lea take on fourth place Ascot United. The Baggies have delivered improved performances of late but despite that are eleven points from safety, although only two defeats from five, both of them rather narrow, undoubtedly gives them hope. The Yellas are eight games unbeaten and having a fine campaign.

South Park Reigate, only two points above the drop zone, are the hosts for Raynes Park Vale, who find themselves in ninth place. The Sparks have lost three of their last four but have been much better at home than on the road, whilst Vale have taken one point from their last four matches, hence their rather lowly- for them- start position. They’ve actually been better on the road than at home, however, although they’ve been beset by home postponements. 

Southall welcome third place Uxbridge in a West London derby, although of course The All are currently sharing at Burnham. Both sides are in good form, Uxbridge with five wins from their last six, Southall having won six of nine- and scored five in each of their last two victories. 

2PM

Our solitary 2PM kick off features second place Kingstonian, who welcome Guernsey to Raynes Park. The K’s are four points behind leaders Farnham Town with a game in hand, and have lost only one of their last ten, whilst the travelling Green Lions are hoping to go three unbeaten and further close the six point margin between themselves and safety. They looked very good in defeating South Park Reigate at the weekend. 

3PM

It’s fifth v first as Hartley Wintney play host to Farnham Town. The Row are looking for a fifth successive win, and haven’t conceded a goal for two hundred and ninety two minutes, whilst Farnham were held by Ascot United on Saturday but- of course- have been rather difficult to stop this season.

Hanworth Villa will hope to get back to winning ways after losing their last two, results which saw them slip to sixth place- albeit only a point away from a play off spot. The Villains welcome Met Police in a West London derby, the boys in blue boosted by a fabulous performance in victory over Hayes and Yeading United on Saturday. Met are only a point from safety, and victory would lift them out of the bottom four- indeed even a draw will do that. 

Harrow Borough, in seventh, is the destination for the side one place and one point behind them, Hayes & Yeading United. Borough will hope that they’ve put some poor form behind them by winning their last two, whilst United’s momentum has slowed with only one win from five. A Borough win would give them a chance of climbing back into the top five.