Friday 22 February 2013

RYMAN PREMIER WEEKEND PREVIEW

The game of the day for TheColdEnd comes near the bottom of the league as Cray Wanderers welcome Hastings United. Cray, fresh from their coupon busting win at Bognor Regis Town last weekend, will be in a confident mood in a game Hastings United really need to win. A defeat for the South Coast side may see them slip into the relegation zone depending on the results Carshalton Athletic and Thurrock get. Striker Michael Power (who was stretchered off in the defeat at Kingstonian) and midfielder Alex Stavrinou scored the goals for The Wands in the surprise result at Bognor which was their first win in ten league games.

Hastings United, lost in midweek in the Ryman League Cup semi-final at Concord Rangers (3-0) and were soundly beaten at home by Lowestoft Town (1-4) last weekend. Daniel East, whom played for Enfield Town earlier in the season on loan from Brighton & HA, is currently playing in goal after joining on a similar arrangement from the Championship side. They have recently signed left sided midfielder Ray Freeman from Whyteleafe whom has also played for Chipstead, Walton Casuals and Horsham. Ex Thamesmead Town coach Hugo Langton has also recently joined the backroom staff having been with Division One (South) Herne Bay this season.

They are without a win in sixteen league games. Amazingly their last victory came in the home game versus Enfield Town way back on the Tuesday 6th November. Could it be seventeenth time lucky for Sean Ray's side or will Cray boost their hopes of survival with a win??

Enfield Town make the long journey to Crown Meadow to face our old friends Lowestoft Town. The Trawlerboys haven't lost in the league since Tuesday 20th November when they lost 2-1 at Lewes. The problem is that since then they have only played ten league games but they have won seven of them and are rightly rated as one of the strongest teams in the division. Their last two home games have seen two good victories over teams chasing a play-off place in Margate and Canvey Island. Centre forward Jack Defty is their danger man and is bang in form having hit the back of the net four times in the last three games.

It'll be a strange weekend for Wealdstone fans who for once will be hoping for a Harrow Borough victory. Borough face Whitehawk at Earlsmead in a game the away side will be hot favourites to win. Harrow who have two wins in ten league games versus the big spending Hawks (eight wins in ten games) looks like an away win all day long but most people said that about Bognor Regis Town (who were 1/3 to win with the bookies) v Cray Wanderers last weekend and look what happened there?

The Stones go to Hendon for a local derby which will certainly be a tough game for the current second placed side. Gary McCann's side have hit some really good form of late and have won eight of their last ten league games with the other two games being a narrow 1-2 loss at home to Canvey Island and a highly creditable 1-1 draw at home to Whitehawk. Winger Junior Morias (on loan from Wycombe Wanderers) has really impressed the Hendon faithful with two gaols in the last two league games.

Other games see Bury Town welcome Bognor Regis Town, Carshalton Athletic at home to Leiston, Thurrock going to Concord Rangers for an Essex Derby, Lewes travelling to East Thurrock United, Kingstonian hosting Canvey Island in a play-off six pointer, Hampton and Richmond Borough going to Margate and Wingate & Finchley travelling to Imber Court to play the Metropolitan Police.

East Thurrock's last two games have finished 4-5 and 4-4 with The Rocks getting a last minute equaliser versus Bognor Regis Town in midweek. Their opponents Lewes lost 6-1 at Wealdstone on Monday night so there could be more goals at Rookery Hill this weekend.

Thurrock play their fourth game in a week having gained just one point from three home games versus Carshalton Athletic (lost 1-3 on Saturday), Hampton and Richmond Borough (draw 0-0 on Tuesday) and Leiston (lost 0-3 on Thursday).

If you fancy a bet on the Enfield Town game bet365.com rate our chances at a massive 13/2 for a victory with the home side odds on favourites at 2/7 with the draw being 4/1.

 As regular readers will  know I am an awful gambler and always advise you to bet responsibly.



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