Can Athletic catch Rooks?

Leaders Lewes, still unbeaten after six matches, may need at least a point to hold onto their top spot- and they have a Sussex derby to look forward to, Hastings United making the trip to the Dripping Pan. The Rooks haven’t played for a fortnight, their last match a goalless draw at Carshalton Athletic, and their only defeat in any competition this season came after a penalty shootout. Their visitors got back to winning ways last weekend in the Cup, defeating the side who were the victors in that Rooks penalty shootout, Harefield United. They haven’t won a league match, however, since August 13th- so would very much like some points! The Rooks won both encounters between the sides last season.

Dover Athletic, the only side who might overhaul the Rooks this weekend, make the trip to Carshalton Athletic for an ‘Athletic derby.’ Dover have been scoring goals for fun this season, an average of four a match over their six games so far, and head to Colston Avenue looking for a fourth league win in succession. The Robins are three unbeaten in all competitions, although two of those were cup ties, and have kept a clean sheet in their last two. They start the weekend in eleventh place.

We’ve fourth v third as Cray Valley PM welcome Billericay Town. Only goal difference seperate the sides at kick off, although the Blues remain unbeaten in the League, and won their last away match, at Folkestone Invicta a fortnight ago, by three goals to nil- although they haven’t played since. The Millers fine start to the season has hit a little bit of a stutter of late, their last two matches in League and Cup ending in two-nil defeats, but they were in super form prior to that and will hope to quickly rediscover their mojo.

Fifth place Dartford are at home to bottom side Bowers and Pitsea. The Darts have been in top form at home of late, winning their last four at Princes Park, whilst Bowers have taken only one point from their six matches so far, although their only win in all competitions did come on the road, at Billericay at the end of August.

Only goal difference keeps Potters Bar Town out of the top five, and the Sholars will hope to climb even higher as they travel to Whitehawk. Striker Steve Cawley will be hopeful of extending his scoring run to seven consecutive matches at the Enclosed Ground, whilst the Hawks have won their last two at home and will expect to make that a treble. The sides last met in Brighton in April, the Hawks winning two-one.

Hendon, in seventh place at kick off, make the long trip to the Kent coast to take on Folkestone Invicta, who are thirteenth. The Greens lost at a different Kentish seaside last time out, falling to defeat in the Cup at Herne Bay, but will hope to put an end to any lingering travel sickness and get back to the form that saw them five unbeaten prior to that match. Invicta have lost their last two and are yet to find any consistency, but have looked very good in patches and will hope to kick start their season with victory- and pick up a first home win in the process.

Dulwich Hamlet welcome Horsham, ninth v eighth- the sides seperated only by goal difference at kick off. Hamlet haven’t played since their win over Canvey Island a fortnight ago, whilst the Hornets spent last weekend slaying the same giant for a second year in a row, Dorking Wanderers now surely heartily sick of the sight of them. They’ve now gone three matches without conceding a goal. Horsham took four points from Hamlet last season.

Chichester City and Wingate and Finchley will meet in North London, both sides looking to get back to winning ways after midweek Cup defeats. City were four unbeaten prior to that defeat at National League South side Slough Town, and won’t be short on confidence- particularly with striker Jimmy Wild having already scored eight goals. The hosting Blues have their own hotshot, Ogo Obi also on eight, but have only won one of their last five and haven’t won at home since opening day. 

Chatham Town have had a rather slow start to the season, but three games unbeaten and victory over National League South opposition last weekend would suggest that the Chats are now speeding up. They welcome Canvey Island, the Gulls second bottom having lost five of their six league matches so far, but having won three of their last four in League and Cup so on an upward trend. The sides took three points each from their encounters last season, the Chats winning the last one, back in January, by five goals to one. 

Cheshunt and Hashtag United meet just north of the M25, the Ambers in nineteenth, the Tags a point better off in seventeenth. The Ambers have only one win in four in all competitions, but they have played three of those matches away from home, and indeed this will be only the second time in nearly a month that they’ve played in front of their own fans. The Tags lost narrowly at Hornchurch in the Cup last weekend, but had won their previous two fixtures and defeated Hastings United four-nil in their last league match, so their fans will hope they’ve turned a corner. Both of last season’s meetings between the sides ended level. 

Bognor Regis Town are back at Nyewood Lane, Cray Wanderers the visitors. Both sides have spent most of the season so far looking for form, which is why our eighteenth v twentieth match sees the sides with only a point between them at kick off. After two wins in a row the Rocks looked to be beginning to find their feet, and then last Saturday saw them hit for four on their own patch by South East side Margate, to the dismay of the home faithful. Wands are now five unbeaten, including two FA Cup replay wins and a draw with Horsham, but they haven’t defeated the Rocks in six attempts, and lost twice against them last season.