Non-League round-up

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Another big weekend looms for our local sides with all five engaged in matches against teams with as much to play for as they do.

Nas Bashir’s Hayes & Yeading United have had a disappointing week, picking up only one point from matches against relegation rivals AFC Telford United and Lincoln City – results which have left them in the bottom four.

Although only one point behind 20th placed Newport County, the Welsh side have three games in hand following their run to the FA Trophy final.

Things are unlikely to get much better for the west London side on Saturday as they face a long trip to promotion chasing Southport who have only lost one of their last 10 league games, a run which began with a 2-0 win at United”s temporary Kingfield home back in January.

Possibly the match of the weekend sees Hampton & Richmond Borough host rivals Sutton United in a crucial Blue Square Bet South game.

Unlike Hayes, the Beavers have had a great few days winning back-to-back away matches against Weston-Super-Mare and Dover Athletic to give their chances of avoiding the drop a huge boost. 

Harrow boss Anderson will want his team to bounce back.

Only goal difference is keeping them in the relegation zone and they still have games in hand on those immediately above them.

Sutton, meanwhile, are at the other end of the table going for their second consecutive promotion after being crowned Ryman League champions last season.  

Their form has dipped a bit in recent weeks, meaning that going up automatically now looks beyond them but a play-off place seems certain. With this in mind, expect a decent game and a big crowd.

Another side chasing promotion is Ryman League Hendon.

Last Saturday they dropped a couple of points at home to struggling Carshalton Athletic which provided further evidence that their play-off campaign might be running out of steam.

However, they bounced back on Tuesday night with a 1-0 win over Cray Wanderers, who they leapfrogged to get back into fifth place.

Whether they hold on to it will depend greatly on how they do at Lewes on Saturday. The Rooks are snapping at the Greens’ heels and will go level on points with them if they win.  

When they met at Vale Farm earlier in the season they fought out an entertaining 2-2 draw and with pretty similar form coming into this one, we could see more of the same.

Wealdstone are perhaps starting to show signs of a successful season catching up with them.

After their run to the FA Trophy semi-finals and Middlesex Senior Cup final, the fixtures are coming thick and fast. Since Saturday they have played twice in the league and failed to win either, a sequence which has not occurred since January.

They also received news that goalkeeper Jonathan North (pictured above) suffered a double-leg break in the defeat at Canvey Island on Tuesday to further hit their promotion hopes.

They are currently eight points off a play-off place but with three games in hand on Hendon, it remains a mathematical possibility.

A win at fourth placed Bury Town on Saturday will raise spirits no end but the hosts are unbeaten at home in the league since September and come into this match having just won the Ryman League Cup, so it appears a tough ask.

Dave Anderson’s Harrow Borough went into last weekend’s fixture against Aveley knowing a win would effectively relegate their opponents while going a long way to keeping themselves in the Ryman Premier.

The Essex club lost their previous match 6-0 at home to Billericay but somehow managed to raise themselves and win 3-2.

With fellow strugglers Leatherhead picking up a surprise win at Cray on Sunday, it was a bad weekend all round for Boro who now sit only three points above the relegation places.

On Saturday they host Canvey Island – another team who are involved in the battle for fifth place.

Boro narrowly lost 1-0 to them on Non-League Day back in September and their form (two wins from five) is patchy. With Leatherhead playing Aveley on the same day, there will be little margin for error.

All Premier and Football League season-ticket holders get in for half price at all our local teams’ home league games. Check their websites for details.