With three points between fourth and seventh, who will make the top five for Christmas?

Leaders Farnham Town are back on their own patch, and face the tough challenge of fourth place Ascot United. Farnham have actually been more successful on the road than at their Memorial Ground, but have only lost one game at home and one away so we’re not sure if that statement is particularly illuminating! That form has given them a six point lead at the top, albeit having played a game more than second place Kingstonian. The visiting Yellas have lost only one of their last ten, their best run since their Isthmian elevation at the start of last season, and are seven unbeaten, winning six of them. 

Kingstonian travel to take on a Hanworth Villa side who will be smarting from last weekend’s hammering at Southall. The Villains had won five in a row prior to that, and will want to put defeat quickly behind them, whilst the K’s have lost one of ten and find themselves six points behind the leaders with a game in hand. 

Third place Hartley Wintney travel to Raynes Park Vale. The Row are looking for a fifth consecutive win and a fourth consecutive clean sheet, and have looked rather impressive in winning their last two matches four-nil; whilst Vale are four without a win, the first three of those defeats, and needed two goals in the closing stages to earn a draw at Westfield last weekend. Both fixtures between the sides last season ended one-one. 

Uxbridge, after their eight-nil triumph last weekend, travel to face Rayners Lane, their hosts four without a win but generally very good indeed on their own patch. With only one point between third and sixth and two between fifth and seventh, Uxbridge could find themselves up to third or down to seventh at Christmas, whilst Lane are comfortably in mid table after a positive start to their Isthmian life.

Hayes and Yeading United are seventh, two points away from fifth place, and will hope that victory at Met Police can lift them into the top five. United have only two defeats from ten but have seen their progress slowed by drawing half of their last eight, whilst Met find themselves four points from safety, their form at Imber Court particularly a concern, with only one win at home all season. They have five defeats from six and a desperate need to put that right. 

Harrow Borough have seen a poor run undermine their promotion chances- but with only four points between themselves and a play off place have plenty of time to put that right, and did pick up three points against Badshot Lea last weekend, before a midweek cup defeat against Binfield undermined any confidence that came with that victory. Borough welcome a Westfield side who also have promotion aspirations and are only three points further back, but are four without a win, although that run does include three draws. 

Southall were impressive in walloping Hanworth Villa last weekend, and will be looking upwards from their current tenth spot. The All travel to take on a Horndean side who saw their manager depart for the Premier Division in midweek, and who were hit for eight by Uxbridge last weekend. 

Leatherhead, down in fourteenth spot, are at home to the bottom place Baggies, Badshot Lea. The Tanners will be boosted by their shootout Cup win at Premier Division Carshalton in midweek, but can’t seem to get a run of positive results going, two wins from eight leaving them thirteen points away from a play off place. Their visitors have only one win all season, and are eleven points from safety, but have looked improved of late- only one defeat from four, and that loss rather narrow. Both of last season’s fixtures between the sides ended in home wins. 

Moneyfields, in sixteenth, host the side two places and one point behind them, Sutton Common Rovers. The Moneys have three wins and two defeats from their last five, and have only two defeats from seven on their own patch, whilst Rovers are looking for a third unbeaten match and have more wins on the road than on their own patch this season. The visitors are four points clear of the bottom four, but have played three more games than fourth bottom Met Police.

Guernsey are nine points from safety, and although they have a number of games in hand over the sides just outside the bottom four need to start winning some of them. The Green Lions have only one win from ten, but were three-nil up against Ascot United with fifteen minutes to go last weekend before somehow leaving with only a point. They have lost seven of nine home matches so far, and will hope to do better as South Park Reigate make the trip, particularly as the Sparks have won only once on the road. South Park are ten points clear of their hosts although have played three matches more. 

Playing on Friday, Ashford Town are nine points from safety and eleven matches without a win, that last victory coming way back on October 8th. They host- at Cobham- a Binfield side who are three unbeaten in league and cup, two of those victories over Harrow Borough. The Tangerines did the double over the Moles last season, six-nil and one-nil, but they may face a far more robust challenge this time around.