Whitstable Town FC

Handle with care. After the disappointment of last week's postponement the Whitstable Town faithful will be praying the weather holds off for Saturday's home match against Slade Green. In a season in which it has been hard to string two league games together, the next few weeks promise a run of consecutive league fixtures. Weather permitting!

This weekend's visitors to the Belmont ground are experiencing a slump in form and were well beat at home last weekend. Not to be taken for granted, however, Green are always capable of stealing points with six draws from twelve fixtures. Their top scorers are experienced striker Adam Morrish and centre half Paul Gross with nine goals between them. With a total of seventeen scored in league games, Green are probably better than their fourteenth place in the league, seemingly nervous at home they are dangerous on their travels. Whitstable should have the class to open them up at the back, but not to show them enough respect would be a mistake for sure. A win will guarantee Town moving into second place with three games in hand, what better motivation?

Thamesmead Town, the league leaders, are just down the road at Herne Bay. The Blues hopefully will still be stinging from last week's home defeat by Croydon and will raise their game against yet more table topping opposition. The form book suggest Mead will make it six league wins in a row, but this is the kind of opposition where they might drop a couple of points. Bay should be able to win out, but I think this might be wishful thinking on my part. Limited options up front mean that unless they can keep a clean sheet at the back Mead will add to their woes, odds on they do.

(Oops! Bay travel to Thamesmead - apologies, Peter.)

VCD and Croydon are playing in the FA Vase this weekend. Vickers are away at Eastern Counties Premier League's Wisbech Town and Croydon entertain Leamington who top the Midland Football Alliance League with 16 wins from 18 games. Good luck to both Kent League sides. The winners will find themselves in the last 32.

Greenwich Borough should be able to take advantage of those Vase fixtures and climb above both the Trams and Vickers with a home game versus Sporting Bengal United. Their previous meeting at the Mile End was abandoned at one all and will be replayed at a later date. This match is unlikely to follow that pattern as Sporting seem to have lost what little form they found early on in the year, sadly they are once again averaging five goals against on the road. Meat and veg to Boro' who are looking for a confidence boost, a shot at second spot is sure to raise their game.

Both Beckenham Town and Faversham Town need good results this week to stay in touch with the top flight. Becks are at home against Sevenoaks while Faversham travel to a revived Erith & Belvedere. Oaks have faded after a good opening to the season and are falling away into the lower reaches, as have Faversham. Both have good squads and maybe it's just the belief that has deserted them, they will both do really well to grab a point in these matches. Beckenham appear to be distracted this season with internal affairs but always put in a good show, are sure to finish in the top eight but can be beat on the day. The Deres have been reborn under new management and are finding the confidence they have been lacking, they surprised me last week with a convincing win at Slade Green against form and against the flow of play by all accounts. Draws all round.

In the last two fixtures, Lordswood should win at home against Erith Town while Tunbridge Wells will return empty handed form Deal Town. Neither of the travelling pair can buy a win according to the form book, trends may be broken but not against workmanlike sides like Lords or Deal.

Neither Hythe Town nor Whitstable Town Reserves have a fixture this weekend.

Wherever you watch your football, enjoy it to the full!

Come on you Reds!                                                                         Peter Albin 06/12/06