Could we have new leaders on Saturday night?

Suddenly what was beginning to look a one horse race has two horses, as Kingstonian challenge Farnham Town for supremacy.

Farnham have been top of the table since September 21st, and as recently as Bonfire Night had a seven point lead, but Kingstonian have been slowly reeling them in, helped by a seven match winning run. The last side to defeat the K’s- and indeed the only side to take any points off them since August Bank Holiday Monday- were Ashford Town, with a remarkable seven-four win on October 8th, and the sides meet again at Raynes Park with the K’s looking for a little revenge and eyeing that top spot. Town find themselves in twentieth position, and haven’t won a league match since that victory over the K’s, seven without a win- but have shown signs of improvement by drawing their last two.

Farnham Town will hope to hold onto their pole position and make it four wins in a row- and perhaps record a fourth consecutive clean sheet- but they might have to work hard as their visitors are third place Raynes Park Vale. They defeated Vale as recently as October 15th, a two-one win which saw the hosts end the match with nine men, but Vale are also looking for a fourth successive win and to make up some of the nine points between themselves and their opponents. The visitors have also been better on the road than at home- indeed only Farnham have a better away record, but they also have an unbeaten home record, which will make them favourites. 

Harrow Borough have slipped to fourth, and will hope to get back to winning ways as they travel to Horndean. Borough have lost three in a row, by far their worst run of the campaign so far, whilst the Deans, only four points away from the top five, have also struggled for consistency and will hope for a reaction to their heavy defeat at Hayes and Yeading last weekend. The sides met on October 1st, Borough winning three-two with a goal six minutes from time.

Hayes and Yeading United have climbed into the top five due to a run of only one defeat in ten, and travel to take on an Ascot United side looking for a third win in a row- and would climb above the West Londoners should they get it, as they are only one point behind. The Yellas earned a two-two draw at the Skyex on October 8th, but they needed an added time goal to do so. 

Hartley Wintney have dropped out of the top five after a run of four consecutive defeats, and they travel to take on South Park Reigate determined to put that right. The hosting Sparks have won only three of their last ten, and are in seventeenth place, but that doesn’t tell the whole story as they are undefeated at home yet woeful away, as perhaps suggested by their five-nil defeat at the hands of The Row on October 15th. When they met at Whitehall Lane last March, South Park won six-two. 

Hanworth Villa play host to Binfield. The Villains got back to winning ways in style after two defeats, winning five-three against Harrow in midweek, and are only a point outside the top five, whilst the Moles saw a five match winning run end with defeats in their last two, although will have been boosted by a County Cup win over Maidenhead United in midweek. When the sides met in September the Villains came from two down to snatch an added time draw, and the Moles haven’t defeated the Villains in five attempts, although three of those ended level.

Uxbridge have closed to within a point of the top five after a fine run which has seen them lose only one of their last ten- and they’ve been particularly good at home, so will be delighted to be hosting Guernsey. The Green Lions ended a seven match winless run with victory over Hanworth Villa last weekend, and have actually been in better form on the road than at home, but start the match three points from safety nonetheless. Uxbridge came from two down to draw in the Channel Islands in October. 

Southall, in twelfth, welcome Westfield, in tenth. The All are finally beginning to show some consistently good form, and have won four of their last five, their only defeat during that period coming against…Westfield, a one-nil win for the Yellows on October 22nd. Field have been rather up and down of late, their last two wins followed immediately by a defeat, and as they won last Saturday they’ll be hoping to avoid that pattern continuing. Southall did the double against Westfield last season, two three-one wins- and indeed October’s win was Westfield’s first over these opponents in five attempts. 

Rayners Lane welcome Met Police. Lane have been good on occasions but are still looking for consistency, three wins and three defeats from their last six- but have been very good at home, and head into this one undefeated on their own patch. The boys in blue would respond that their away form has been better than their home form, but neither set of results have been particularly positive, and only goals scored keeps them out of the bottom four after a run of one win in nine. When the sides met in September, the outcome was a one-one draw. 

Leatherhead welcome Moneyfields, fifteenth v sixteenth. We’re not sure anyone would have predicted the Tanners poor start to the season, and there have been moments where they have looked superb, but sadly for the fans at Fetcham Grove there have been too few of those. Four wins from ten- and none in their last three- tells the Tanners story. The Moneys have only three wins from ten, but that win did come last time out, as South Park Reigate left Portsmouth empty handed- however the difficulties for the club have nearly all come on the road, and they head to Surrey without a win on their travels. The visitors will be looking to do a Leatherhead double, having defeated them two-one on October 1st. 

Finally, Sutton Common Rovers, in nineteenth, welcome bottom side Badshot Lea. The two sides are not in good form. Rovers, recently depleted by injuries and absences, have gone eight matches without a win, six of the last seven ending in defeat- and don’t yet have a win at home. The Baggies can beat that, but not in a good way, as they haven’t managed to pick up a win anywhere so far, and are nine points from safety with a goal difference of minus thirty. Rovers won their first meeting of the season, in September, by three goals to nil.