This Friday, in a slight departure from Fridays previous, I have decided that rather than previewing tomorrow afternoon’s hot battle on a Hastings hillside (mostly because I can’t get down to the south coast), I would take a quick look at the first quarter or so of the season. Yes, I know it’s hard to credit, but most sides have completed around about 25% of their league programme already. It only seems like a couple of months ago that I began my long and drawn out preview. How is everyone faring then? More importantly, how are my predictions looking? Well…
1. Lowestoft Town, P 10 Pts 22
A pair of surprise defeats against Middlesex’s not quite finest Harrow Borough and Wingate & Finchley excepted, it’s been a very impressive start from the Suffolk lot. Benefitting greatly from Lubo Guentchev’s schooling at the Gary Mac academy of skillz (the former Hendon man has 8 goals in 8 starts so far this term) and dangerous strike partnership of Matt Nolan and Michael Frew the Trawlerboys have racked up 26 league goals already this season. It’ll take a brave punter to bet against them remaining top of the pile come April’s end.
Top Scorer: Lubo Guentchev -8 goals (in all comps)
Next Fixture: A v Wealdstone
Surprise Rating: Negative
2. Cray Wanderers, P 10 Pts 22
Few would have predicted Cray’s response to their opening day 5-2 thumping at home to AFC Hornchurch, but with 9 wins from 11 games since, and four different players already notching hat-tricks this season (Leigh Bremner, Tommy Whitnell, Jack Clark and Louis Perkins). Progress to 2nd spot in the league has been matched by two wins and eight unanswered goals in the FA Cup to continue what has been a lightning start by the Hayes Lane tenants. Whether or not they’ll be able to stay the course is up for debate, but signs are bright and confidence will be sky high going towards Christmas.
Top Scorer: Tommy Whitnell – 8
Next Fixture: A v Kingstonian
Surprise Rating: Midly Astonished
3. Billericay Town, P 10 Pts 21
Another side who have enjoyed an excellent, and goal laden start to the campaign, Craig Edwards’ side have really impressed with seven wins from their last eight matches in all competitions during which time they’ve scored 22 goals and conceded just twice. Their pair of signings from Thurrock have been amongst the goals, Rob Swaine and David Knight both have 6 to their name, and Jay May has 4. The signing of Adam Thompson looks to have been a key component to ‘Ricay’s recent success and they look well set for a play off charge.
Top Scorer: Rob Swaine, David Knight – 6
Next Fixture: A v Met. Police
Surprise Rating: Contentedly
4. Hendon, P 9 Pts 20
No one, and I mean no one foresaw this start by the Greens, least of all myself. It hasn’t always been pretty, but it’s been mightily effective. Just seven goals conceded in all competitions so far, progression to the 3rd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup and a pair of strikers bang in form. Greg Ngoyi is really looking the part up front with his selfless performances up front and new boys James Archer and Carl McCluskey have been especially impressive additions to the squad from lower levels. The influence of Junior Lewis as coach is clear, and there is a growing belief around Vale Farm that the kind of mid-season collapse we saw last season may be a thing of the past. I for one am hoping it is.
Top Scorer: Greg Ngoyi – 6
Next Fixture: A v Hastings United
Surprise Rating: Very very very pleasantly
5. Lewes, P 10, Pts 20
Lewes have been the opposition I’ve been most impressed with this season so far, and that I think we gained our best result of the season thus far against. Strong, well organised and classy, the only thing that will stop the Sussex side cruising into the play offs will be injury and suspension problems. With a 100% record remaining at home and with an early FA Cup exit possibly proving to be a blessing in disguise, I imagine Steve King and most Lewes faithful would have taken a tally of 20 points from their first 10 matches, particularly after the struggles they’ve faced over the last 3 seasons.
Top Scorer: Michael Malcolm – 5
Next Fixture: A v Canvey Island
Surprise Rating: Not particularly
6. AFC Hornchurch, P 11, Pts 19
Lurking ominously just outside the play-offs and having shaken off the three straight defeats that blighted the beginning of their season, things are looking good for the Urchins. Martin Tuohy remains one of the most feared strikers in the division, despite having gone 5 goalless games, and with the return of Rickie Hayles from East Thurrock strengthening an already strong looking back line, I fully expect the Urchins to remain hovering in and around the play offs for the remainder of the season.
Top Scorer: Martin Tuohy – 7
Next Fixture: A v East Thurrock United
Surprise Rating: Nil
7. Bury Town, P 10 Pts 19
It’s been a bit of an up and down start to the season for Bury with impressive showings at Canvey Island, and AFC Hornchurch mixing with disappointing defeats at home to Met Police and Redbridge in the FA Cup. The squad, although full of quality may be a little threadbare and need a little reinforcing when the pitches worsen and injuries may bite. Marcus Garnham has been particularly impressive with the gloves, and the goals have been well shared around. They may well need one of the Reed brothers or Daniel Cunningham to step up and score regularly to ensure they remain in the play off hunt.
Top Scorer: Daniel Cunnigham, Sam Reed – 3
Next Fixture: H v Leatherhead
Surprise Rating: A tad
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| Best In Show? Marcus Garnham, Bury's In-form stopper |
8. Canvey Island, P 10, Pts 19
Canvey bounced back in fine style from their opening day defeat at home to Carshalton with five wins on the bounce that pushed them well up the table alongside the early pacesetters. However, that form has fizzled out slightly and they are now without a win in their last 3 matches, including a surprise 3-0 defeat at home to Aveley. Rob King continues to provide goals from midfield, and the return to fitness of Jason Hallett ought to boost their goal output a little as well as they look to return to winning ways as soon as they can.
Top Scorer: Rob King, Danny Heale – 5
Next Fixture: H v Lewes
Surprise Rating: Couldn’t be less
9. Metropolitan Police, P 10, Pts 18
An American fan’s dream, the Fuzz appear not to believe in drawing matches. They’ve done well in their first season of Premier Division football beating most of the sides who are struggling early on (with the notable exception of Bury Town) and with Stafforde Palmer providing plenty of goals along side Carl Wilson-Denis who has spent much of the season on the bench. Whether they’ll be able to push for the play-offs or be happy to consolidate towards the top half of the table remains very much to be seen, but Jim Cooper will doubtless be extremely happy with their start.
Top Scorer: Stafforde Palmer – 6
Next Fixture: H v Billericay Town
Surprise Rating: Pretty
10. Wingate & Finchley, P 10, Pts 16
Wingate had a blinding start to the season with four wins and a draw from their opening five matches as they took the momentum from last season’s successful conclusion through to the beginning of this season. Since losing to Canvey Island four weeks ago however, they’ve picked up just one win and lost their other five fixtures, letting in fifteen goals in the process. Dave Norman has made two or three new signings to freshen things up, and whilst Leon Smith remains at the club, they’ll pack a goal threat. They need a win sooner rather than later though to arrest this slump and get themselves back on track.
Top Scorer: Leon Smith – 9
Next Fixture: H v Harrow Borough
Surprise Rating: Incredibly then not so
11. Wealdstone, P 11, Pts 13
Not quite the start the Stones faithful had anticipated, particularly after three consecutive wins against Bury Town, Leatherhead and Kingstonian looked to have kick-started their season. However, a surprise defeat against Beaconsfield SYCOB in the FA Cup began a run of form that has seen them score just twice in their last six matches, five of which have been lost. Frustration seems to be building off the pitch, but there is more than enough quality in the side to turn their season around and get them heading back towards the play offs.
Top Scorer: Richard Jolly – 6
Next Fixture: H v Lowestoft Town
Surprise Rating: Not that much of one
12. Tooting & Mitcham United, P 10, Pts 12
I said earlier in the season that Tooting were as likely to win 4-0 as lose 4-0 in any given fixture. To borrow from Churchill, they’re a mystery wrapped in an enigma etc. Mark Beard has been unable or unwilling to select a settled side, which has shown in their erratic results so far this season but things seem to be slowly settling down. 12th is a fair start considering the chopping and changing on the pitch, and although the 25 goals currently showing in the ‘Against’ column will concern fans, there is a good opportunity for the club to improve on their 14th placed finish last season.
Top Scorer: Kiernan Hughes-Mason – 3
Next Fixture: H v Aveley
Surprise Rating: Very and yet not really simultaneously
13. Margate, P 9, Pts 11
I’ll be honest, Margate’s start has surprised me. Good away, anything but at home. Chris Kinnear has a settled squad down at Hartsdown Park that looks on paper better than 13th place. Home form will be a worry, as will the lack of goals from sources that aren’t Tom Bradbrook and Kwesi Appiah, whose 5 goals in midweek at Thamesmead took him into double figures for the season. Ian Pulman has just signed for a month from Eastbourne Borough and I’m expecting their climb up the table to be a case of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’.
Top Scorer: Kwesi Appiah – 11
Next Fixture: H v Carshalton Athletic
Surprise Rating: Quite
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| Kwesi couldn't be Appiah when scoring goals. |
14. Harrow Borough, P 10, Pts 10
New manager, usual old Boro. Only they could follow a 4-0 home defeat against Cray with a 2-1 win at Lowestoft 3 days later. Dave Anderson is slowly improving the squad and getting them settled down which will no doubt keep them well away from relegation trouble. Jon-Jo Bates is just beginning to find his feet and score some important goals whilst Rob Wolleaston, formerly with Oxford United and Weymouth looks a great addition on paper. All signs point towards ‘fine’.
Top Scorer: Jon-Jo Bates – 5
Next Fixture: A v Wingate & Finchley
Surprise Rating: Not. At. All.
15. Kingstonian, P 9, Pts 10
The play offs beckon. If they played Hendon just before Christmas then I’d be backing them to go down, now they’ve got us out of the way and beaten, I think they’ll end up going from strength to strength. There’s no doubt that their start to the season has been disappointing, but again Alan Dowson looks to have found a winning formula, albeit maybe slightly later than he might have liked, but wins over us and Lewes show signs of turning the corner. Ali Chaaban looks a superb signing on paper and Bobby Traynor is still a dangerous customer in front of goal. Perhaps of most encouragement to K’s fans will be the two consecutive clean sheets in those games.
Top Scorer: Bobby Traynor – 5
Next Fixture: H v Cray Wanderers
Surprise Rating: Massively pre-Hendon, Bemused during Hendon, Not really post Hendon
16. Hastings United, P 10, Pts 10
Saturday’s opponents have endured (rather than enjoyed) a tough start to the new season, Jason Hopkinson’s first full season in charge of the Us. Wins over East Thurrock and Kingstonian have been offset by defeats against Wingate, Bury, Carshalton, Cray and Billericay, whilst games against other sides in and around them have been drawn. Their big problem appears to be in front of goal where none of the strikers look like being the 15-20 goal a season man clubs at any level need. Now I’ve said that, one of them will doubtless smash a treble past our back four tomorrow. Unless Hopkinson can sort that issue, it looks like a long winter ahead for the Hastings faithful.
Top Scorer: Matt Hall, Fred Foreman – 2
Next Fixture: H v Hendon
Surprise Rating: Sadly not really
17. Carshalton Athletic, P 9, Pts 10
This wasn’t in the script. Not on the pitch anyway. With strife on the terraces and off the pitch, the talented bunch of players Paul Dipre had got together in the summer were supposed to gel and fire the Robins to championship glory. It hasn’t happened. Players have got injured, there’s no space to find the money to bring in replacements, others have underperformed and they’re being led by a man who appears to have as much tactical nous as an Italian General. The impression remains that he can bring in as many players as he likes, but until a genuine manager able to mould a side is appointed, relegation looks ever more realistic a proposition than the play offs ever really did.
Top Scorer: Dean McDonald, Paul Vines – 3
Next Fixture: A v Margate
Surprise Rating: Genuinely astonished despite my better judgement.
18. East Thurrock United, P 9, Pts 8
It’s been a tough start, but the Rocks have stayed in touch with the middle of the table despite a lack of fire power. They will be hoping that the return of Sam Higgins from injury will now give them the launch pad to push up the table whilst Petric Elbi will be looking to transfer the form that has given him 4 goals in 3 FA Cup matches into the league. Sam Collins looks a good signing as well and Kris Newby is beginning to settle back into familiar surroundings. I still think they’ll be ok.
Top Scorer: Petric Elbi – 4
Next Fixture: H v AFC Hornchurch
Surprise Rating: -9
19. Aveley, P 10, Pts 7
Carl Griffiths has found the going touch in his first full season at Field Mill as Aveley have struggled to replicate the impact they had on the division a couple of years ago. Micah Hyde has done well in midfield and the recent addition of Paul Shave looks good, whilst Sherwin Stanley shoulders much of the goal burden on his shoulders if they are to haul themselves out of trouble. The first win at Canvey Island hasn’t been built on with a disappointing midweek home defeat against Met Police. It looks like a long season ahead unfortunately.
Top Scorer: Sherwin Stanley – 4
Next Fixture: A v Tooting & Mitcham
Surprise Rating: Not even vaguely I’m afraid
20. Horsham, P 9 Pts 6
Six straight defeats tells its own story down at Gorings Mead and that is in spite of boasting only the second man in double figures for goals so far this season, the hitherto unheralded Tony Nwachukwu. Without his goals it is difficult to know exactly just what kind of mire the Hornets would find themselves in as Justin Luchford continues to search for the winning combination. He will need to keep Nwachukwu fit and firing, never mind at the club if they are going to haul themselves up the table. At the moment, and with little room to play financially, things don’t look good for the Sussex side. This weekend’s match against Concord Rangers looks enormous.
Top Scorer: Tony Nwachukwu – 10
Next Fixture: H v Concord Rangers
Surprise Rating: As expected sadly.
21. Concord Rangers, P 9, Pts 4
Somehow, the Essex side are still winless. After witnessing them first hand in the season opener at Vale Farm I was impressed by them and thought they would prove dangerous opponents and very hard to beat. Another play off tilt didn’t look beyond them. The opposite has proven the case and even the return from injury of Tony Stokes hasn’t yet ignited their season. On the plus side, Kyle Asante looks a good signing up front. Anything less than a win tomorrow at Horsham could have dire consequences for the Beachboys both in the long and short-terms, particularly coming off the back of an FA Cup replay defeat against Wroxham.
Top Scorer: Kyle Asante – 3
Next Fixture: A v Horsham
Surprise Rating: Enormously
22. Leatherhead, P 9, Pts 2
The first manager this season to fall was Mick Sullivan as Leatherhead have found adjusting to life at a higher level tougher than many expected. Players have already been and gone through the door with slightly alarming regularity whilst former Sittingbourne bosses Richard Brady and Jamie Coyle have so far shown faith in those already at the club. Hopefully they’ll be able to get themselves going before too long and put up a fight against relegation, but it’ll need to begin pretty quickly.
Top Scorer: Greg Andrews, Danny Gainsford – 3
Next Fixture: A v Bury Town
Surprise Rating: In spite of my predictions, mild shock has still struck.
There we go then, there’s still a long way to go and a lot of time for things to change as doubtless they will. There’s some big games coming up this weekend at both ends of the table, some managers who could really do with a win if they’re not going to find themselves coming under extreme pressure whilst others can continue to bask in the relative glory of an unheralded beginning. Whatever happens over the next six and a half months, everyone needs to be watchful. Football has that annoying habit of biting you on the arse when you least need it to.
For the next 24 hours at least, I, personally, can remain contented.
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