The tension increases- at both ends of the table

Leaders Felixstowe and Walton United remain a point clear of second place Maldon and Tiptree, and travel to fourth from bottom Takeley hoping to at least preserve that margin. The Seasiders have only one defeat from ten and quickly bounced back from that hammering by the Jammers to defeat Stanway Rovers last weekend, whilst Takeley’s win over Brightlingsea Regent in midweek saw them close to within one point of safety- and they have a game in hand. United won four-nil when the sides met in November.

Maldon are at home, Brightlingsea Regent making the trip. The Jammers have drawn their last two and had to come from behind to take a point on both occasions, waiting until added time to level against Stanway Rovers in midweek; whilst Regent’s attempt to make it three wins in a row came a cropper in Takeley. The Jammers have lost only three times this season, but one of those defeats came against Regent just under three months ago.

Third place Waltham Abbey are thirteen points behind the leaders and seven points clear of sixth place, so fairly comfortable in their play off chase. The Abbotts travel too take on fourteenth place Cambridge City, their hosts having lost their way a little of late- seven without a win coming into this one. 

Fourth place Bowers and Pitsea are our top scorers, having scored seventy four goals this season- and will hope for more as they travel to take on struggling Grays Athletic, their hosts under new management. Bowers are looking for a sixth win in a row and are our form side, eleven unbeaten and having taken twenty six points from their last ten matches, and find themselves six points clear of sixth place; whilst Athletic are only a point above the drop zone and have lost three of their last four.

Stanway Rovers will consider themselves unlucky not to have completed a Maldon and Tiptree double in midweek, only an added time equaliser denying them three points. Our fifth place side have gone three without a win but will be confident of returning to winning ways as Newmarket Town make the trip, the Jockeys in twelfth- but with three wins from four. 

Redbridge are on the road to Wroxham, eighth versus sixth. The Motormen are only outside the top five on goal difference and have won five of their last six, whilst the hosting Yachtsmen are three points away from the top five with a game in hand so will be determined to make it three wins from four.

Seventh place Gorleston are at home to second bottom Downham Town, the visitors saying an emotional farewell to their most successful boss, Dale Stokes, who heads to a new job in the USA following this match. The Greens are only a point away from the play off places, the visitors five points from safety but looking much improved with only one defeat from six. Gorleston have lost their last two and will expect to put that right.

Ninth place Tilbury, with only one defeat from six, travel to take on Walthamstow, their hosts having lost two of their last three; whilst Concord Rangers, who hit five in midweek, will travel to another seaside to take on Lowestoft Town, the Trawler Boys three points above the drop zone and looking to recover from their defeat against Redbridge last time out.

Witham Town travel to Mildenhall Town, Hall having slipped to only two points above the bottom four after five defeats in a row. Witham are also in poor form, with six defeats and one win from seven.

Finally Heybridge Swifts, four points from safety, are rather desperate for three points as they travel to face bottom side Brantham Athletic. The hosts are looking to avoid a sixth successive loss, whilst Swifts have taken four points from their last two fixtures.