Non-League round-up

The run-in to the season is upon us – and our non-League sides still have plenty to play for.

Hayes & Yeading United are arguably the smallest club in the Blue Square Bet Premier so it is no surprise that they have found themselves in or around the relegation zone all season.

It is a credit to manager Nas Bashir that his side are still very much in with a chance of staying up, with just goal difference currently keeping them from safety.

Saturday’s home match against AFC Telford United will be one they target to win as Andy Sinton’s team are only three points above them in the table and not showing the best of form, having lost three of their last four.

In the division below, another relegation battle is being fought by Hampton & Richmond Borough.

Although they are five points adrift at the moment, they have games in hand on all their rivals which if won will lift them out of the drop zone.

On Saturday they travel to Woodspring Park to play Weston-Super-Mare, who are currently in ninth place.

League position would suggest a home win but the hosts’ previously good form has disintegrated of late and they have picked up only four points from a possible 30.

The Beavers have become much tougher to beat in recent weeks so manager Mark Harper could reasonably expect to see his players pick up at least draw.

After a superb run to last season’s play-offs, Harrow Borough have returned to more familiar territory towards the wrong end of the Ryman League table.

The Boro have fought a number of thrilling battles against the drop over the last 20 years or so and somehow managed to stay up.

A poor run of results from late January to early March had their fans worrying, but two wins from their last three have given them a six-point cushion over the bottom four, and manager Dave Anderson (pictured above) will be hoping they can maintain that momentum.

Struggling Aveley play host to Harrow on Saturday in a crucial game for both sides. The hosts, under new manager Justin Gardner, have looked particularly shaky and lost 6-0 at home to local rivals Billericay Town on Monday.

If Boro win they will effectively relegate their Essex opponents, who will be left 18 points adrift with six games to go, so the stakes are high.

Hendon became the early leaders in the Ryman League back in August and have stayed in touch with the play-off places ever since.

For a club without its own ground (they share with Wembley FC) and average crowds of under 200, this is no mean feat. However, there are signs that the Greens could be losing momentum at the crucial moment as two defeats in their last three have seen them drop out of the top five.

This weekend they have a great chance to get things going again when Carshalton Athletic head to Vale Farm.

It is probably fair to say the Robins are a club in crisis with the unpopular owner/manager Paul Dipre in charge. Having alienated many fans with his style, results and attendances having started dropping and a run of five straight defeats in all competitions should give Hendon cause for optimism.

Of all the area’s sides, Wealdstone have had the most buzz around them of late. A great run in the league, a place in the Middlesex Senior Cup final secured, and last week’s appearance in the FA Trophy semi-finals – it’s been an eventful time.

Although they bowed out of the Trophy to Newport County, they bounced back on Monday night with a league win over Metropolitan Police, which leaves them seven points off the play-off places but with two games in hand on Cray Wanderers, who currently fill fifth spot.

In order to start bridging this gap they will have to beat East Thurrock United at home on Saturday.

The Rocks have been in reasonable form in March but have failed to win away since December. The Stones, meanwhile, last lost at Grosvenor Vale in mid-October – 15 games ago – so another home win looks likely.

Season-ticket holders of Premier or Football League clubs can often watch our local non-League sides’ home league games for half-price. Check their websites for details.