FOUR TO FOLLOW | WEEKEND PREVIEW

We look ahead to the best of the action

The weather may be decidedly chilly, but the action is hotting up as we enter 2025.

For the first weekend of the year there is action across our four divisions plus Biggleswade Town and Chertsey Town fly the flag in the Isuzu FA Trophy.

Here’s our pick of the games:

WALTON & HERSHAM v AFC TOTTON | PITCHING IN SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER SOUTH
The hosts go into this encounter sat just one place out of the play-off places, however, they will be keen to close the five-point gap that currently exists. Similarly, second-placed AFC Totton are eager not to let leaders, Merthyr Town, get too far away from them. For Walton & Hersham, it’s their first action since going down 5-2 at Merthyr, whilst the visitors also get their first taste of action this year having been held at home by Poole Town in their last outing.

KETTERING TOWN v HALESOWEN TOWN | PITCHING IN SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER CENTRAL
Two wounded animals battle it out here as the League leaders lock horns with opponents who now sit in fourth place. New Year’s Day saw Kettering Town go down to defeat at Harborough Town at the same time as Halesowen Town were going down 2-0 at home to a resurgent Bromsgrove Sporting. Both teams have enough quality within their ranks to bounce back in the right way and in front of what will be a large and vocal crowd, it will be an intriguing contest. There will be a 9.45am pitch inspection on Saturday morning.

EXMOUTH TOWN v MELKSHAM TOWN | PITCHING IN SOUTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE SOUTH
It’s second against third here with both teams going into the contest on the back of a defeat in their last games. The hosts went down to a home defeat at the hands of Bideford, whilst Melksham lost 4-3 at Shaftesbury. Therefore, it will be a test of who responds best in what is sure to be a close encounter between two teams who are separated by just two points going into the game.

WELWYN GARDEN CITY v BERKHAMSTED | PITCHING IN SOUTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE CENTRAL
The home team have hopes of breaking into the top five as they sit just a couple of places outside the play-off zone, but at the same time they will be conscious of the fact that they don’t want the gap, which currently stands at eight points, to get too great. They are three games unbeaten as they look to get into a run of regular League games and face opponents who are sitting pretty at the top of the table and on a run of seven wins in a row. There will be a 10.30am pitch inspection on Saturday morning.

We also send our best wishes to Biggleswade Town who welcome Oxford City of the Vanarama National League North and Chertsey Town, who head to Vanarama National League, Aldershot Town, in the fourth round of the Isuzu FA Trophy. Keep doing us proud!

IMAGE: @gmeaden