Can the Rooks maintain their perfect start?

Even the most optimistic Lewes fan must be surprised- and overjoyed- by the Rooks start to the season. After wholesale squad changes- and the arrival of a new manager- over the summer, the Dripping Pan faithful have witnessed a perfect start, with three wins out of three, and their side will head to take on Cray Wanderers at Flamingo Park full of confidence. Wanderers are still looking for a first competitive win on their own patch, and to avoid a third consecutive defeat, but this is a match which tends to be rather close, three of the last four meetings ending all square, the other- little over twelve months ago- ending in a narrow Rooks victory.

A Lewes slip up could let any of the next six clubs take over at the top, but those in pole position are Carshalton Athletic and Hastings United.

Carshalton are at home against Dartford, the Darts only a point behind, whilst the Robins remain unbeaten and have scored three goals in each of their last two matches. Dominic Vose has three of their seven goals so far, with Thomas Stagg on two. The Darts have started the season fairly well, their two wins coming against Cray Valley and Canvey Island, so perhaps they like playing clubs who start with C? We’ll find out tomorrow.

Hastings are on the road to Kings Langley, where they take on ‘hosts’ Potters Bar Town - please don’t go to Potters Bar, because unless you like to look at pitch installation equipment you’ll have rather a disappointing afternoon. The nearest station is Apsley, which is a twenty minute walk away, or a short bus ride. Following that interlude for travel information, back to the football, and United have had a fine start to the season, taking seven points from nine with only two late Bognor goals at Pilot Field last weekend robing them of a perfect start. The Scholars had a far from perfect start, conceding eight on the opening Saturday, but the followed that with an impressive win at Dartford and ran Horsham close in defeat last weekend. 

Each of the four meetings between the sides over the last two seasons has ended in an away win, and given both sides are technically away from home we could easily continue that trend on Saturday!

Cray Valley PM have had a fine start to the season, but the Millers, who have been really impressive in winning their last two matches, have what looks like a tricky trip as they travel to take on unbeaten Folkestone Invicta. The Stripes saw their last match abandoned just before full time due to a player injury, but seem to have found their form and will pose a test for their visitors, who have taken to the Premier Division as if they’ve been in it for years. 

Bognor Regis Town is the destination for fifth place Hendon, a green on green battle. Hendon have had a positive start to the campaign, defeating Bowers and Pitsea and Cray Wanderers whilst losing to the latest of late goals at Dulwich Hamlet, and look to be formidable opposition for a Bognor side that hasn’t yet found its feet, but who will be boosted by that comback at Hastings last weekend. This will be their first meeting in seven and a half years.

Seventh place Horsham are on the road to Aveley, where they take on Hashtag United. The Hornets have bounced back from opening day defeat to win their last two, whilst the Tags have one victory and two defeats. Both meetings between the sides last season ended in an away win.

Billericay Town remain unbeaten, but have drawn their last two, and will hope to get back to winning ways as they travel to Cheshunt to take on the Ambers and former Blues boss Craig Edwards. Cheshunt had a positive start to the campaign but fell apart in the first forty eight minutes at Cray Valley PM last weekend, conceding four goals before rallying to score a couple of consolations. The Blues won both meetings between the sides last season, but their two-one win in April was aided by a red card for Ambers keeper Sami Nabbad just before half time. 

Dover Athletic welcome Chichester City to the seaside. Athletic swept all before them on opening day, scoring eight, but that result has been followed by a defeat and a draw so they haven’t quite found their rhythm yet, although with five goals in three matches George Nikaj is certainly dancing in time in front of goal. City have lost their last two after winning on opening day, but they haven’t been overawed in any of their defeats and will hope to put some points on the board. We think this is the first meeting between the sides. 

Dulwich Hamlet travel to Chatham Town, twelfth v eleventh. Both sides are highly fancied, and both have had a mixed start to the season, starting with defeat followed by a win and a draw. Hamlet have Luke Wanadio in fine form, with four goals from three matches, whilst the Chats haven’t yet demonstrated the attacking verve that came easy to them last season. Talking of last season, Town did the double over Hamlet, hammering them five-two in August with a Jack Evans hat trick the highlight, with a late Reece Butler goal securing a two-one win at the Bauvill on New Years Day.

Canvey Island have had an extremely disappointing start to the season, losing each of their three matches so far, and they will hope to put that right as Wingate and Finchley make the trip to Essex. The Gulls have conceded two goals in each of their matches so far, whilst the Blues have scored five in two- and had three more goals on the board when their match with Folkestone Invicta was abandoned last weekend. The Blues defeated the Gulls twice last season- with an eight-two aggregate- and indeed have won three of their last four meetings. 

Finally, Whitehawk and Bowers and Pitsea meet at the Enclosed Ground, with both sides looking for a first win of the season. The Hawks played well to pick up a point at Dulwich Hamlet last time out, scoring their first three goals of the season, whilst Bowers conceded two late goals to lose to Chatham Town last weekend.