Can the Bees regain top spot?

With leaders Bury Town having an enforced day off, second place Basildon United can return to the top if they can defeat Mildenhall Town. The Bees haven’t had a match for eleven days, their defeat against Ipswich Wanderers on September 17th their last action, and will hope to quickly put that behind them; whilst Hall are looking for a second away win in a row. They lost narrowly to Concord Rangers last weekend, that defeat following two victories in their previous two matches. 

Third place Felixstowe and Walton United head to Brightlingsea Regent. The Seasiders are our great entertainers, having scored seventeen goals in five matches (thirty four when we add in six cup ties), and they’ll head to tenth place Regent with a fair amount of confidence and with the hope that they’ll end the day in second place. A depleted Regent side got back to winning ways at Waltham Abbey in midweek, and another victory would take them level on points with their visitors and- perhaps- into the top five.

Heybridge Swifts start the weekend in fifth place, and have finally begun to win matches rather than just drawing them! Swifts, who defeated Gorleston in midweek, have drawn four of their seven matches- and to put that into perspective only one other side in the Division has more than one draw, Grays Athletic, who have two. Sporting Bengal United haven’t drawn any of their games so far, but find themselves just above the bottom four as they head to Essex, and having lost their last four matches in all competitions. 

Sixth place Redbridge have an eye on a top five spot as they travel to Ipswich Wanderers. The Motormen are four games unbeaten in the League- three wins- whilst Wanderers are yet to find any consistency, but will be kicking themselves after leaving Walthamstow with nothing to show for their efforts, as they were twice ahead and also got an equaliser two minutes from time only to concede an added time goal. The two sides met twice within four days at the end of last season, both matches ending in high scoring away wins. 

Concord Rangers are at home to Maldon and Tiptree. Rangers are three unbeaten, those seven points lifting them up to seventh- outside the top five only on goal difference. The Jammers are in fifteenth, and hoping to transfer their FA Trophy form to the League. They’ve won two Trophy matches since they last won a match in the League. 

Tilbury and Waltham Abbey meet at Chadfields- nineteenth v ninth, five points between them- although the Abbotts have played two more matches. The Dockers are in something of a mini-slump, having lost three matches in a row in League, Cup and Trophy without scoring a goal- but they have enough attacking talent to suspect they’ll soon put that right. The Abbotts started the season in good form but perhaps have been missing their matins of late, having won one and lost three of their last four in League and Trophy. That said, victory could see them into the top five.

Newmarket Town are at home to Walthamstow. The Jockeys find themselves in twentieth place but have won two of their last three in all competitions, whilst Stow, three places and three points better off at kick off, seem to have picked up and also have two wins from three.

Finally for Saturday, Wroxham will have their very own rap to run out to as they welcome Grays Athletic. The Yachtsmen need some luck, having taken only one point from their first six matches, whilst Athletic will hope to build on the four points they've taken from their last two matches, and add a third clean sheet in a row. Last season saw both matches between the sides end one-one, with Athletic taking six points from the Yachtsmen during 22-23. 

We have a match on Sunday, too. Cambridge City- still at St Ives Town for the time being- welcome our only unbeaten side, Witham Town. City have won their last three matches- although two of those were in the FA Trophy- whilst Witham have been superb all season. They haven’t played for twelve days, dropping out of the FA Cup on penalties in as replay at Haringey Borough- but they’ll be desperate for three more league points- points which, depending on what happens on Saturday, could possibly take them as high as second place.