Weekend Pitching In Southern Football League Preview

We`re heading towards an extremely busy period of matches through December and into the New Year.

This Saturday sees a full fixture list in all four divisions of the Pitching In Southern Football League.

In the Premier Division Central, leaders Coalville Town welcome neighbours Nuneaton Borough to the Mander Cruickshank Solicitors Stadium in arguably the game of the day.

Jimmy Ginnelly`s men made the 20-mile journey sitting in 18th place, with just three points separating them from bottom-markers Hitchin Town

And they go there on the back of a 4-2 defeat at Stratford Town on Tuesday night.

It`s extremely tight in the division, with just a gap of eight points between Stratford in 11th and Hitchin in 21st, so relative safety is only a couple of wins away.

Adam Stevens` Ravens currently hold a one-point lead over Peterborough Sports after the Turbines inflicted a 4-1 defeat on Hednesford Town in midweek.

Coalville haven`t played since sharing a 1-1 draw with Banbury United on November 23rd but haven`t lost in the league since August 21st when they were beaten 2-1 at Hayden Road by AFC Rushden & Diamonds.

Other games of note in the division sees two other top versus bottom clashes as Peterborough Sports entertain a Redditch United who are now second-from-bottom, while St Ives Town in 17th, welcome third-placed Banbury United to Westwood Road.

Few would argue that the game of the day in the Premier Division South is at the SKYex Community Stadium where second-placed Metropolitan Police visit third-placed Hayes & Yeading United.

Gavin Macpherson`s Met side will still be smarting from Tuesday night`s 3-0 defeat at Silver Jubilee Park against Hendon – a result that ended a five-match winning run in the league.

But Paul Hughes` men also came unstuck on the same night, losing 2-1 at the Elmbridge Xcel Sports Hub to Walton Casuals. However, that was in the League Cup.

But it followed a 2-1 defeat at Kings Langley last weekend, so these are two teams in desperate need to return to winning ways to keep the pressure on leaders Farnborough, who extended their lead at the top to six points on Wednesday night with a 2-1 success at Harrow Borough.

It`s top v second-from-bottom at the EasyAsHGV Stadium where Farnborough welcome Merthyr Town, while bottom-markers Wimborne Town will be keen to prevent an already sizeable gap between them and the safety mark from getting any bigger when they entertain Hendon at New Cuthbury.

In Division One Central on Saturday, it`s derby day.

Probably the biggest crowd in the division will be at The Eyrie where second-placed Bedford Town welcome close neighbours Kempston Rovers.

Both will be after important points for different reasons, with Gary Setchell`s Eagles looking to go top of the table if leaders Berkhamsted slip up at home to bottom side Colney Heath, while the Walnut Boys are currently third-from-bottom are fresh from a 6-1 home hammering by FC Romania last weekend – their sixth league game without a win.

Another derby games sees Harlow Town take on Waltham Abbey at The Arena,

In Division One South, Plymouth Parkway have second placed Sholing travelling down to Bolitho Park.

Lee Hobbs` Devonians will consider themselves well in the race for a top five spot with their games in hand are a fresh from producing a Buildbase FA Trophy upset by knocking out Vanarama National League South side Hampton & Richmond Borough last weekend.

The Boatmen currently sit four points adrift of leaders Frome Town and with a much inferior goal difference on them and third-placed AFC Totton.

Sholing extended their unbeaten run in the league to five matches with a 1-0 verdict over Evesham United last Saturday.

The two bottom teams - Mangotsfield United and Barnstaple Town meet at Cossham Street with the latter still looking for their first point of 2021/22.

The Mangos lost 3-0 at leaders Frome last weekend, while at the same time, Barum were losing 4-0 at home to Devon rivals Willand Rovers.

***Don`t forget match day events are added by clubs whilst the match is in progress and can be accessed via the league’s vidiprinter.***