PREVIEW | GOOD FRIDAY

Plenty of great action ahead

The busy and crucial Easter weekend gets underway on Good Friday with some fascinating fixtures across our four divisions.

Starting in the Premier South where leaders, Walton & Hersham, are closing in on the title. They head to a Taunton Town outfit who sit one place off the bottom of the table, but only four points from safety in what is a congested bottom half of the table.

The play-off places are currently occupied by Gloucester City, Franham Town, Poole Town and Sholing. A trip to mid-table Hanwell Town awaits Gloucester, whilst Farnham Town also hit the road as the head to Wimborne Town. Meanwhile Poole Town go to Evesham United, whose victory at Tiverton this week has pulled them further clear of the relegation zone.

There’s a battle for the last remaining play-off place. Currently it is held by Sholing, who host bottom club, Tiverton Town, whilst just two points behind them, Chertsey Town entertain Yate Town, who are a single point clear of the bottom four, and Berkhamsted go to a Dorchester Town side who are just inside the relegation places. So there is plenty at stake at both ends of the table here.

Of the remaining teams who are battling against the drop, Hungerford Town have home advantage against Havant & Waterlooville, as Weymouth go to mid-table Bracknell Town. Meanwhile Plymouth Parkway and Basingstoke Town meet with vital survival points up for grabs.

Elsewhere. Gosport Borough will be looking to keep their play-off chances alive as they take on Uxbridge, who are aiming for a top ten finish in their first season in the Southern League.

Over in the Premier Central, it’s Harabrough Town who lead the way and they face a trip to a St. Ives Town outfit who are battling for their lives in the lower reaches of the table. Second-placed Spalding United will be looking to make home advantage count as they take on a Stourbridge side who still need the points to complete their own escape from the clutches of the bottom four.

The remaining play-off places are being chased by Real Bedford, Redditch United, Kettering Town, Quorn, Halesowen Town, Worcester City and Needham Market, with Leiston in tenth place still in the race too. There’s a mouth-watering clash between in-form Kettering and Real Bedford, as Redditch United play host to the aforementioned Leiston.

Meanwhile Quorn welcome an AFC Sudbury outfit who have a lot to do if they are to escape relegation. Halesowen Town entertain Stamford AFC, who sit just one place and two points off the drop zone. For Worcester City, they go to mid-table Bury Town as Needham Market take on a Bromsgrove Sporting side who did their survival hopes the power of good with an away win at title-chasing Spalding United last time out.

Of the teams who are battling to avoid the drop, Royston Town are cut adrift as they go to a Banbury United outfit who are sat in mid-table. Barwell have had a recent change at the helm as they take on another side still in the relegation equation, Alvechurch.

Elsewhere, Bishop’s Stortford and Stratford Town go head-to-head in what is sure to be a hard-fought encounter.

Into Division One South and Frome Town look set to make it an extra special Easter as they prepare to lift the title. They are on the road to mid-table Sporting Club Inkberrow on Good Friday.

Behind them, Malvern Town head to bottom club, Tavistock AFC, whilst third-placed Portishead Town are also travelling as they go to Larkhall Athletic, who sit just inside the top ten. The other two play-off spots are occupied by Winchester City, who head to Willand Rovers, who themselves are desperate for the points for different reasons, and Bishops Cleeve who go to Exmouth Town.

Sitting on the fringes of the play-off places are Shaftesbury who welcome Falmouth Town, whilst Hartpury are at home to Bideford AFC, who still need a couple of wins to secure their status at this level for another year having won their last two games in a row.

Down at the bottom, Tavistock AFC are already relegated. Bashley need to make home advantage count against Bristol Manor Farm, whilst Brixham AFC, who have given themselves a chance of avoiding the drop with their recent form, go to Didcot Town.

Other clubs still looking over their shoulders are Melksham Town, Falmouth Town and Mousehole AFC. It’s an important game down in Cornwall as Mousehole and Melksham meet, whilst Falmouth are on the road to Shaftesbury.

Elsewhere, Westbury United lock horns with Swindon Supermarine with both sides sat in the middle of the table.

In Division One Central, Leighton Town sit pretty at the top of the table, 11 points clear. They have home advantage as they face Hertford Town, who are one place three points adrift of the play-off places. Hitchin Town will be aiming to stay on the leaders’ coat-tails as they host London Lions.

The other play-off spots see Biggleswade Town, Biggleswade FC and Thame United looking to strengthen their positions this weekend. Friday sees Biggleswade Town welcome mid-table Beaconsfield Town as Biggleswade FC head to another mid-table outfit in Hadley. For Thame United, they go to a Northwood outfit who are on the verge of having their relegation confirmed.

Talking of the relegation zone, AFC Dunstable and Rayners Lane are already down. AFC Dunstable go to Marlow, whilst Rayners Lane make the trip to Enfield looking to erase the memory of a heavy defeat in their last outing. Meanwhile Aylesbury United will be looking to edge closer to safety as they host Barton Rovers.

Elsewhere, Leverstock Green and MK Irish meet as they look to secure mid-table safety and Ware take on Flackwell Heath with both clubs hoping to enjoy a solid finish to the campaign.

So, as you can see, there is plenty of great action happening on Good Friday across all four of our divisions. Come along and show your support!

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