Whitstable Town FC

Top of the table competition at the Belmont on Saturday when Martin Ford's VCD Athletic meet Marc Seager's Whitstable Town for their first meeting of the 2006/7 season. Vickers have only lost two games away from home in ten league starts while Town remain unbeaten at home. Absolutely top drawer stuff!

Indeed Town are unbeaten home and away in the Kent Football League and are sixteen points ahead of third place VCD who have two games in hand. Vickers still have the potential to post 80 points if they complete the season by winning their last 13, which is the best anyone other than the Oystermen can do. Losing last weekend at home to Bideford in the FA Vase will not have been the best preparation for them, but this weekend's game has it's own motivation. By contrast Whitstable's 4-1 dismissal of Tunbridge Wells was one of the best footballing performances I have seen from them this season and Wells were unlucky to meet us in such good form. Clearly the 'magic number' for the Reds this week is 81 points, still another twenty-four required and the foot needs to be kept firmly on the gas pedal, quite some way still to the finishing line. Should be good crowd and a great atmosphere, see you all there.

My next match in order of 'most exciting' would be the Hythe Town v Greenwich Borough game, fifth versus sixth. Doesn't sound the most promising of pairings but the combatants are both on forty points, only four behind second place Croydon. All square in games played and with only a two goal GD advantage for Hythe things couldn't be tighter beween them. A quick check of the interactive table on the KL website turns up the stat that Hythe have won seven out of nine home games and they drew the other two, super form. Boro' have won the last three and are also back on a good run of form, not afraid of upsetting the pundits this year they really have a great chance in this finely balanced encounter. Bracing myself to be upset, I fancy the home side to win a very tight game. Whatever the result a great game to go and see.

Talking of Croydon, they are away at Tunbridge Wells this weekend and should be too strong for the home side to handle. On the positive side for Wells this is the Trams first visit to Culverden and they won't know quite what to expect. If enough locals can be gathered to bolster their side then Wells have a chance of surprising the visitors and avenging the 3-1 defeat inflicted in October. Some new faces to debut for Wells, but I have to favour Croydon to come away with the points.

The wheels are falling off Thamesmead Town's title challenge and they will need to drop into Kwik-Fit on their way to the ground to meet Lordswood. On the face of it Lords have only a small chance of taking anything away from Bayliss as they haven't won for a while now. A month ago I would have maintained that argument, but Mead have experienced a 'wobble' in form and could be vulnerable. A good time to sneak away with a point against a nervy side.

Deal Town undertake the longest trip of their season as they fuel up the charabanc for Sporting Bengal United. No surprise Deal are moving up the table, now in seventh and staring across a nine points gap to Greenwich. But the cream will always rise towards the top and they are almost certain winners on Saturday, that margin will narrow should Boro falter at Reachfields. In their defence Sporting are overdue a result, but I doubt they'll find it against the experienced journeymen from the east coast.

As for our near neighbours, Faversham are at home to Erith and Belvedere while Herne Bay travel to Beckenham Town. All four sides are within a four points spread, 8th to 11th place in the league. The Blues are 'the hottest' at the moment and ought to put Becks to the sword quite comfortably given recent form, although Becks are unbeaten in their last six homes they have taken only four points from the last four matches, Bay are unbeaten in four aways most recently drawing at Croydon last weekend. With a mid-week fixture against Sevenoaks Becks might inject some confidence into their side but Bay should dampen down any raised spirits. Both the Deres and Faversham have been talking of a renaissance since the new year and neither are quite on the money yet, a competitive game should be the result. Great entertainment for the couple of hundred loyal Town supporters, probably a result to brighten their weekend too against the current form of both.

Sevenoaks Town play away at Slade Green and er… there's a good chance that er… that er… one or the other will, that is should win, no guarantees though. Checking the record Green have lost the last five, Oaks have drawn a blank in the last six away from Greatness Park so… should be an evenly balanced affair then. A draw anyone?

Erith Town make a good saving on their electricity bill as they do not have a game this weekend.

All of our best wishes to the WTFC Reserves who play at VCD (weather and pitch permitting) in a quarter final match of the Kent Intermediate Cup, a 2.15 kick off that one. Any natives mad enough to be in Cray instead of at the Belmont on Saturday afternoon will be most welcome at Oakwood.

Oh! And don't forget the Whitstable v Faversham PDC quarter final has been re-arranged to next Tuesday evening, third time lucky!

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