Whitstable Town FC

Greenwich are currently in sixth spot, in what has been a watershed year for them and a strong run in could put them in the top four, an inspiring turn around and a great jumping off point for next season's campaign. Our previous games in League Cup, League and Kent Senior Trophy have produced seventeen goals, nine to eight in Town's favour, close really isn't the word. A highly competitive match is on the cards, I have been impressed with the speed of Boro's attack in what have been very open games. With only three home games left to play the support of our home crowd cannot be underestimated, this one should be a belter! See you there.

Top draw for the independent non-league supporter will be the VCD Athletic v Hythe Town match. Both teams are still very much in the hunt for league honours and will be looking to take maximum points to maintain the pressure on the top three as they lie fourth and fifth as I write. Hythe showed great spirit against Whitstable on Tuesday night and they possess speed and fitness, I've still yet to clap eyes on Vickers and can only judge them on past record which is patchy having only played two games recently both at home, beating lordswood 3-0 and succumbing to a 3-3 draw against the Deres last weekend. How to make a judgement? Strangely they shared the honours in the League Cup group stages each winning the away leg. So my thinking goes like this, Vickers play Ryman 1's Ashford Town in the Kent Senior Cup on Thursday and if they can beat them then they have the form to beat Hythe, however, if they don't I fancy Hythe to rub their noses in it. A conditional maybe.

Croydon, currently in runners up spot, take their campaign to near neighbours Beckenham Town. A slip up at Erith last weekend spoilt a decent run of results for Becks with nice wins against Greenwich and Herne Bay and at Deal preceding that single goal game. A good derby atmosphere ought to help them find their scoring boots although the gate is unlikely to break a hundred souls. The Trams should concentrate on hitting the target, being very wasteful of their opportunities against the Oystermen last weekend. Croydon won't thank me for saying it, but I can feel another score draw coming on. Doh! Their not even on the pools coupon.

Thamesmead Town, still in third, travel to Slade Green who beat Faversham 3-1 at the Small Glen last week. Too late to make any waves in the table they have at least shown that they can beat decent opposition on their day. By contrast in their last two league games Mead lost at home to Deal and only put two past Sporting, they also lost again at Bayliss against Bay in the League cup semi first leg, has their cookie crumbled? We all await the result at five, I suspect Green could scramble into mid-table respectability by May starting with three more points this weekend.

Herne Bay travel to the Mile End Road to face Sporting Bengal United, just what the doctor ordered for our blue friends, a bit of target practice. Only one winner in this one, bit of a no brainer, Bay to win. SBU are on course to easily break the hundred goals conceded barrier with only thirteen goals required in the last eight fixtures, I had such high hopes for them this season. I know, rose coloured spectacles.

Way over on the other side of Graveney marshes, Faversham Town play host to Deal Town, a lot of water has passed down the Swale since Faversham 'doubled' them in the League Cup as was evident in the two-a-piece game at the Charles a couple of weeks back. Deal are now playing their best football away from home, winning their last four, Faversham haven't even scored in their last five homes. Deal to win to nil.

Tying up the loose ends we have a couple of mid-table scraps, Sevenoaks Town travel to Erith & Belvedere and Lordswood drop down to (literally) Tunbridge Wells. Apologies to anyone who went to Tunbridge Wells on the strength of my prose last week, we all make mistakes. I promise they really will be there this weekend and they'll be playing Lordswood and they're going to win. Unlike last week, where I was half right insofar as the home side won! The Deres fought back to gain an injury time draw last week demonstrating great attitude. They will need to hang on to that attitude against a physical Sevenoaks side. Keep their calm and home advantage should carry them through, although it will feel like treading water as I think 7th to 11th will all step three points forwards together.

What do Whitstable Town Reserves and Erith Town have in common? Neither of them have a game this weekend. They might as well come and watch the Reds!

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

Peter Albin - 21/03/07