It’s South Central Saturday once more!

The next challenge to leaders Farnham Town comes in the shape of fifth place Hayes & Yeading United. Town have opened up a ten point lead at the top of the Pitching In Isthmian South Central table, a sixteen point gap between themselves and their visitors, and remain just about invincible, with only one defeat in ten- and indeed only two all season. United have lost only two of their last ten, and hold onto that fifth spot by only one point - and they’ll probably need to be at their best to hold onto it.

Second place Kingstonian travel to Rayners Lane. The K’s are ten points away from the top, albeit with two games in hand, but haven’t played for two weeks- two weeks during which they’ll have been trying not to brood over their late defeat at Uxbridge last time out. Lane occupy tenth spot, and should pose a test, not only because they’ve lost only one of their last six but because they are rather strong at home, only two sides leaving West London with all of the points. 

Ascot United are having a wonderful season, and they travel to Ashford Town in third place, eleven matches unbeaten, and having won nine of those- including their last three. The Tangerines saw a four match unbeaten run crash to an end at Moneyfields last weekend, but have narrowed the gap between themselves and safety to only three points and shouldn’t be written off. They took four points from their meetings with the Yellas last season.

Fourth place Uxbridge are on the road to Leatherhead, should Fetcham Grove finally dry out. Uxbridge are within a point of second place and six points clear of sixth place Hartley Wintney, and are having a fine season, with only one defeat from their last ten. With one defeat in seven the Tanners seem finally to be on the up, but this will be their first match for a fortnight. They have an eleven point deficit to make up on the top five- and did a comfortable double over these opponents last season.

Hartley Wintney travel to Hanworth Villa, their hosts two places and three points behind them. The Row will hope to take advantage of any Hayes & Yeading slip to regain their place in the top five, but have lost two of their last three; whilst Villa are five without a win, but at least took a late point in their last outing, at Ashford Town on New Years Day. Hartley took six points from their meetings last season.

Harrow Borough have a four point gap to bridge if they are to climb back into the top five, and their latest test comes in the form of South Park Reigate. Borough look to be recapturing their form, with only one defeat in five- although perhaps they aren’t there yet as they are three without a win. The Sparks are five without a win- losing four of those- and find themselves only two points above the drop zone as a result.

Raynes Park Vale and Southall meet in South West London. Vale start the weekend in ninth, five points away from the top five, whilst The All are six points and four places further back, with only one win from six despite some decent performances. Vale took six points from The All last season- but it was their visitors who took the play off place. 

Moneyfields have been in excellent form of late, with four wins in a row- and indeed seven wins from ten. That run has lifted them thirteen points away from the drop zone and got them looking upwards, first towards the top ten- which they could reach this weekend- and then perhaps at the top five, which is nine points away. The Moneys have been particularly good on their own patch, which will perhaps concern visitors Binfield- although the Moles have won more away games than home matches. The visitors are seven points behind their hosts in sixteenth place, their last six matches bringing two of every kind of result. 

Westfield have slipped to fourteenth after a run of seven matches without a win, and they travel to Met Police, the Boys in Blue two points above the drop zone and looking to get back to winning ways after a one-nil loss in their last match, a fortnight ago. They’d won the two prior to that convincingly, so shouldn’t be short on confidence- and will be looking for some revenge after Field dumped them out of the FA trophy in September, four-nil the final score. 

Horndean welcome Sutton Common Rovers, both sides rather desperate for victory. The fifteenth place Deans have heavy defeats in each of their last three, whilst Rovers have also lost three in a row, and find themselves in the bottom four, two points from safety. Horndean play best at home, Rovers play best away, but both need points.

Sunday sees the bottom two meet on the Channel Islands. Guernsey are four points from safety, Badshot Lea have a thirteen point deficit to make up, and this looks to be a match that neither can afford to lose. The Green Lions have been in much improved form, with only one defeat from five, whilst the Baggies have been close to collecting some points but not close enough, and have only one win all season.