The flood of vital fixtures continues in Non-League this evening as a second night of play-off action take place. There are a number eagerly anticipated matches taking place throughout steps one to four as teams throw whatever energy they have left in the tank on desperately trying to secure promotion.
Evo-Stik Southern Premier
King’s Lynn Town vs Weymouth – 7:45 kick off
King’s Lynn Town secured 100 points this season after a convincing 3-1 victory at Chesham on the final day of the season. The Linnets have one of the sternest defensive records in the league having conceded just 39 times and will be hoping for another defensive shut out this evening.
Weymouth occupied the final play-off position but will enter this evening’s game on a shaky run of form having only picked up one win from their last three league games. Mark Molesley’s side will have their work cut out this evening but will take heart from the fact that they have not fallen to defeat against King’s Lynn so far this season.
Slough Town vs Kettering Town – 7:45 kick off
Neil Baker and Jon Underwood’s Slough Town will be attempting to go one better than last year after the Rebels saw their season end at this stage following a disappointing defeat at eventual play-off winners Leamington. Slough will come into today’s encounter full of confidence having picked up victories in their last four league games.
Kettering also finished the season on a high with a 6-2 thrashing of Farborough at Latimer Park. The Poppies will be hoping for a repeat of their performance on the season’s opening day when they won 2-1 at Slough.
Evo-Stik Southern League East
Hartley Wintney vs Dunstable – 7:45 kick-off
Hartley Wintney finished their regular campaign with a surprise 4-3 defeat at home to 21st-place Aylesbury. The result was The Row’s second straight defeat and sets a potentially worrying precedent ahead of tonight’s crucial fixture.
They will come up against a Dunstable side who only conceded 37 times during the regular season and ended their campaign with an emphatic 6-1 home victory over Hanwell Town.
Hayes & Yeading vs Cambridge City – 7:45 kick-off
Tonight’s game at Beaconsfield Road presents a battle between two sides who suffered relegation last year.
Hayes & Yeading ensured they would face a home tie this evening after thrashing Barton Rovers 5-0 on the final day of the season, which was their third straight victory. They will face a Cambridge City side who are currently on a worrying run of no wins in four.
Evo-Stik Southern League West
Evesham United vs Swindon Supermarine – 7:45 kick-off
Evesham will be hoping to improve on last season’s achievements after their season ended at this point last year. The Robins ended the regular season with a 1-0 win over AFC Totton to record their 23rd victory of the season on Saturday.
Swindon Supermarine secured their play-off position after strolling to their second straight victory with a comfortable 3-0 win over 21st-placed Barnstaple Town. Dave Webb’s side have netted eight unanswered goals in their last two league games.
Wimborne vs Didcot – 7:45 kick-off
Free-scoring Wimborne pushed their goal-scoring tally up to 104 as they breezed past Slimbridge in a 5-0 victory on Saturday. The Magpies have surprised fans and pundits alike with a superb season after finishing in mid-table last campaign.
Didcot endured a nervous final day to scrape into the final play-off position by virtue of a victory over Paulton Rovers. The Railwaymen finished just above Cirencester Town after securing their third win on the bounce at the weekend.
Bostik North
Bowers & Pitsea v Canvey Island – 7.45pm kick-off
Bowers & Pitsea missed out on automatic promotion after finishing just a point behind Potters Bar Town after taking the race for 2nd place down to the final day of the season. Rob Small’s side finished their campaign with a convincing 4-1 victory over Brentwood Town on Saturday to pick up their 28th victory of the season.
Canvey Island finished nine points behind this evening’s opponents but will take confidence from their comfortable 3-0 victory over Bowers & Pitsea in September. The Islanders suffered heartbreak after being relegated by just a single point last season and will be eager to make an instant return to the Bostik Premier.
Haringey Borough v Heybridge Swfits – 7.45 kick-off
Haringey Borough also suffered the pain of missing out on automatic promotion by just a point. However, the Borough will come into this evening’s game on a superb run of form having picked up maximum points from their last eight league games.
Heybridge Swifts will provide a forceful test for Haringey this evening as they were the league’s highest scoring side during the regular season, finding the net an impressive 105 times in their 46 games. This figure was helped by the goal scoring exploits of Matthew Price, who was the league’s top goalscorer with 36 to his name.
