FOUR TO FOLLOW | NEW YEAR'S DAY ACTION

Mouth-watering start to 2025

2025 gets underway with plenty of great action across our four divisions.

Here’s our pick of the New Year’s Day action:

MERTHYR TOWN v GLOUCESTER CITY | PITCHING IN SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER SOUTH
The top four all face each other as first takes on third here and second-placed AFC Totton host Havant & Waterlooville, who are fourth. Free-scoring Merthyr Town added another five goals to their tally on Saturday as they beat Walton & Hersham 5-2 to make it 68 goals from 21 League games. They will be in upbeat mood against a Gloucester City outfit who have lost just three times in 22 outings, but were denied victory in their last game at Wimborne Town by a stoppage time equaliser.

STRATFORD TOWN v AFC TELFORD UNITED | PITCHING IN SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER CENTRAL
Just two places and two points separate these two teams who sit within the top five. Fifth-placed Stratford Town played out an entertaining 3-3 draw with leaders, Kettering Town, in their last outing, a game which saw them reduced to ten men during the opening period. AFC Telford United also go into this encounter on the back of a 3-3 draw, at Hitchin Town, so both teams will be eager to get back into winning ways in what is sure to be a hard-fought contest.

MOUSEHOLE v HELSTON ATHLETIC | PITCHING IN SOUTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE SOUTH
This Cornish derby sees the home side eager to lift themselves back into the top five. They have won their last two home games by four goals to nil, the latter of which came on Saturday against Cribbs. Meanwhile Helston will be eager to halt a slide which has seen them slip down to the middle of the table. Form goes out of the window in encounters such as this and with local pride at stake, it has all the ingredients to be a competitive and action-packed clash.

REAL BEDFORD v STOTFOLD | PITCHING IN SOUTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE CENTRAL
This game sees two teams battle it out for the points for very different reasons. The hosts will be looking to keep up the pressure on the leaders, whilst Stotfold are in need of the points to edge them away from the relegation places. The home side go into the game on the back of a 5-1 triumph over Barton Rovers on Saturday, a game which saw them net their 60th League goal of the season. For Stotfold, they will be looking to recover from a 4-0 loss at the weekend, in a game which saw them concede four second half goals.

IMAGE: Real Bedford FC