Weekend Match Preview

Well, this is it – the end of another Pitching In Southern Football League season is upon us and how fantastic has it been to actually play a full campaign after two awful years disrupted by the global Covid pandemic!

And the last day of the 2021/22 season still has plenty of issues to settle and there will be a good deal of Twitter checking of results on Saturday afternoon!

But firstly, in the Premier Division Central, we had a crucial game on Thursday evening as the re-arranged game between Tamworth and Biggleswade Town took place at the CR Mot Centre Community Stadium, more commonly known of course as The Lamb.

The original game was abandoned on December 11th and the league have ruled that it had to be replayed.

The Lambs had a 12-game unbeaten run to maintain, so certainly wouldn’t be taking the game lightly.

They have done remarkably well since Andy Peaks took over as manager when they were in the relegation zone.

And they didn’t take their foot off the gas as their 3-1 win relegated the Waders.

Tamworth could now finish as high as ninth if they better Hednesford Town’s result at Barwell on Saturday – the Canaries still looking to ensure they don’t end up in that third-from-bottom spot.

Guy Hadland’s side have a two-point advantage over the current incumbents, Hitchin Town, with Nuneaton Borough and, to a lesser extent Bromsgrove Sporting, also in the mix.

The Hertfordshire Canaries welcome Sporting to Top Field on the final day and the Rouslers have the worst goal difference of the teams in the frame.

There is sure to be a decent crowd at Hayden Road as AFC Rushden & Diamonds look to get at least a point against Nuneaton to keep Alvechurch from pinching the final play-off spot.

Diamonds have are 5 goals better off than the Lye Meadow outfit so it would need a big win for Ian Long’s side at home to Royston Town for them to claim fifth spot.

A Diamonds win and defeat for Rushall Olympic at home to already relegated Lowestoft Town could see the Northamptonshire side finish fourth.

Who either Diamonds or the Pics take on in the play-offs is still uncertain going into the final day as Peterborough Sports and Coalville Town are level on 78 points, with the Turbines possessing the better goal difference.

But Jimmy Dean’s side face a tricky trip to the Suffolk coast to play Leiston and Coalville have another awkward away game at the War Memorial Athletic Ground against mid-table Stourbridge.

Champions Banbury United play their final Step 3 game at Bloomfields against Needham Market, whilst the disappointed Biggleswade group host Redditch United and Tamworth round off their campaign with a home match against St Ives Town.

What a thrilling finale we are heading for in the Premier Division South!

Realistically, the title race is between current leaders Taunton Town and second-placed Hayes & Yeading United who, although they trail the Peacocks by three points, possess a much better goal difference.

Third-placed Farnborough have the same points as Paul Hughes` side but are 31 goal worse off – effectively a further point behind.

But Boro could certainly do Hayes & Yeading a favour as they head west to the Cygnet Health Care Stadium to take on Taunton where there is sure to be a big crowd.

Hughes` men make the journey to Farnborough’s Hampshire neighbours Hartley Wintney, who lost the derby on Easter Monday to Spencer Day’s side but had made themselves safe from the drop with a 4-1 home win against Truro City 48 hours earlier.

Metropolitan Police are already assured of fourth spot as they head to Poole Town looking to maintain form running into the play-offs following a 4-1 success against Beaconsfield Town on Monday.

The identity of the final play-off spot though goes right to the wire, with Weston-super-Mare currently occupying fifth spot after a 4-0 win at Bolitho Park against Truro on Easter Monday.

That ousted Chesham United from the top five as the Generals were beaten 2-0 at Hayes & Yeading on the same day.

A single point separate the sides and both have home games on Saturday, with the Seagulls welcoming mid-table Harrow Borough to the Optima Stadium and Chesham hosting already-relegated Wimborne Town.

Yate Town, although mathematically not out of the equation, are 11 goals worse off than Weston and 6 of Chesham as it stands as the Bluebells face Gosport Borough at the South West Interiors Stadium.

The remaining games in the division sees Merthyr Town, finally condemned to relegation over Easter, travel to Hendon, while the likes of Dorchester Town can play a little more relaxed football at Walton Casuals now that they are safe.

Kings Langley cannot get out of that third-from-bottom spot but could get a reprieve on points-per-game – but not being a very good mathematician, I cannot explain that one too much further! They are at the Ray Mac against Salisbury.

Beaconsfield Town against Truro and Swindon Supermarine against Tiverton Town are the two other final day matches.

In Division One Central, although we already know who has won the championship are and who the bottom three are, but the final day still has the play-off positions to settle.

Title-winners Bedford Town finished their away fixtures with the replayed game at Kidlington which had been abandoned in February.

It finished 1-1 and now the Eagles can look forward to a big crowd at The Eyrie when they host Aylesbury United on Saturday when they will be presented with the championship trophy after the game.

Eager to join Bedford in playing Step 3 football next season are Berkhamsted, who are already assured of the runners-up spot as they welcome the young St Neots Town side to Broadwater.

But who Berko will be playing in the play-offs is far from clear.

Ware are currently third, a point ahead of AFC Dunstable and three of a North Leigh side who have a superior goal difference.

Paul Halsey’s Ware side travel to the Loop Meadow Stadium to play a Didcot Town outfit who have been inconsistent this season, so it’s difficult to know which Railwaymen side will turn up!

AFC Dunstable also have a tricky final afternoon at Hertford Town, who have been decent at home this season, despite their lowly position in the table.

North Leigh are also on their travels on the final day as they head to already relegated Colney Heath who, no doubt, will want to bow out on a high.

Welwyn Garden City look to have been thwarted due to ground grading issues so, although they go into the final day level on points with North Leigh, their trip to Yarnton Road to play Kidlington looks irrelevant in terms of the play-offs.

But there will be a definite decision on that later today apparently.

As for the remaining games, it’s all about final placings and bowing out on a high as Barton Rovers welcome Biggleswade FC, who have enjoyed a terrific season and could finish as high as eighth, FC Romania have bottom-markers Wantage Town visiting Theobalds Lane, Thame United have seventh-placed Harlow Town coming to town, while Waltham Abbey travel to Hillgrounds to play third-from-bottom Kempston Rovers, who will be reprieved if Welwyn Garden City’s appeal is denied.

The scenario is simple in Division One South on the final day.

If Plymouth Parkway avoid defeat at Bolitho Park against third-from-bottom Cinderford Town, then Lee Hobbs` side are champions.

Effectively, with Parkway holding an eight-goal advantage on second-placed Frome Town, a defeat could also see them lift the title.

However, Danny Greaves` men travel to Lymington Town, who possess the third worst defensive record in the division, so don`t count your chickens quite yet!!

Cirencester Town will be keen to finish as runners-up as they head to ninth-placed Paulton Rovers, although they are at least certain of a home tie in the play-offs.

Winchester City are assured of fourth spot, but they will have a say in who joins them in the play-offs as they make the long journey to The Creek to take on a Bristol Manor Farm outfit who are fifth but have a worse goal difference than sixth-placed AFC Totton, who are three points behind.

The Stags are away to a Slimbridge side who seem to have headed to the beach a few weeks early, having won only once in their last eight games and were beaten by already-relegated Mangotsfield United on Easter Monday.

So, Jimmy Ball`s side will be looking for a big favour from their Hampshire rivals Winchester if, of course, they can win at Slimbridge.

The remaining final day fixtures are for pride and final placings only as the two relegated teams, Mangotsfield and Barnstaple Town finish with away games at Bideford AFC and Sholing respectively.

Evesham United finish up with a home match with Larkhall Athletic and Highworth Town welcome Willand Rovers to the Save on Tyres Stadium.