The state of the- North- nation

Finally, so long as Great Yarmouth hasn’t been hit by a tornado or a plague of locusts (we suspect both are possible as we believe this particular fixture is probably cursed), Gorleston take on Maldon & Tiptree this evening in a match crucial for the hosts play off aspirations and the visitors title hopes.

The Jammers are on top of the table only on goal difference, but they can put some actual points between themselves and second place Felixstowe and Walton United as they finally play the game in hand they’ve been carrying for months. The hosting Greens are in sixth, outside the top five only on goal difference, so the points are just as important to them as they are to their visitors. And whoever loses will soon have a chance of revenge, as the reverse fixture is scheduled for Saturday, so long as Maldon isn’t hit by a flood of strawberry preserve or melted by sea salt avalanche. 

Kick off tonight is at 7.45 PM.

Looking in more depth at that title battle, as well as two matches against the Greens Maldon also have to play Walthamstow in East London on the final Saturday of the season, and if they can take six points from those three fixtures they should take the title due to having a significantly better goal difference than Felixstowe. The Seasiders, of course, have only two matches to play as opposed to the Jammers three, and those two matches see them travel to Concord Rangers and host relegation-threatened Mildenhall Town.

Waltham Abbey know that they will have a home Play Off Semi-Final, as their third place will not change, but the battle for fourth and fifth involves every side currently between fourth and eighth.

Fourth place Stanway Rovers have a three point advantage over fifth place Bowers and sixth place Gorleston (although the Greens have that game in hand), and a six point lead over seventh place Redbridge. Rovers will host Tilbury on Saturday and then end their campaign with a trip to already relegated Heybridge Swifts.

Bowers and Pitsea are in fifth place as we write and will be hoping for a Maldon win this evening. They face a tough task on Saturday, Redbridge making the trip to the Len Salmon. The Motormen are only three points behind their visitors but have a significantly poorer goal difference. 

Bowers finish their campaign with a trip to Newmarket Town, whilst Redbridge host Concord Rangers on the final Saturday of the season.

Gorleston will perhaps need a rest after two matches against Maldon, but they will have to welcome Grays Athletic on the last day of the season, and will be hoping that Grays have pulled clear of the relegation fight by then. 

Wroxham are eighth, four points away from the top five. The Yachtsmen are the outsiders in the race for a Play off place, but will be confident that they can take six points from a home match against Heybridge Swifts and a trip to Takeley.

Ok, down to the other end of the table. Brantham Athletic, Heybridge Swifts and Downham Town have already had relegation confirmed, but Mildenhall Town, Lowestoft Town, Takeley and Grays Athletic have been left to tussle over nineteenth for the prize than nobody wants. 

Athletic have a three point advantage over fourth bottom Mildenhall but have a tough match against the side one point behind them, Lowestoft Town, on Saturday. Grays then end their campaign with a trip to take on a Gorleston side who may still have play off aspirations, so they’ll be rather keen to take three points on Saturday. For the Trawler Boys, who are two points clear of the bottom four, that trip to take on Grays is followed by a home match against Brightlingsea Regent.

Takeley have a three point advantage over Mildenhall with two matches still to play but a worse goal difference, so certainly won’t be complacent. They travel to Brightlingsea Regent on Saturday and then end the season by hosting Wroxham, so will hope that the Yachtsmen’s play off challenge has faltered by then.

Mildenhall Town have it all to do. Two points from safety, they start this weekend with a home match against Walthamstow, and then have to travel to second place Felixstowe and Walton United so will hope that the Seasiders are simply preparing for a Play Off Semi-Final by then.