Vital points at stake for our Southern League trio - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS

Former Margate star Iain O’Connell has a major say in Dartford’s chase for that final play-off berth in the Southern League Division One East tomorrow, writes Stephen McCartney.

His Great Wakering Rovers side might be sixth from bottom in the table, but the Essex side have won ten league games at their Burroughs Park home and Darts boss Tony Burman will be hoping O’Connell’s men can chalk up their eleventh victim when they entertain sixth placed Wivenhoe Town tomorrow.
 
Wivenhoe Town’s 2-0 victory over Waltham Forest on Good Friday put the Dragons into sixth place but Dartford are closing in and although one point behind the Kent side have a much better goal difference.

The simple fact is Dartford, who defeated local rivals Chatham Town 3-1 at Stonebridge Road, entertaining the 369 crowd yesterday, must win their last three league games – starting at former giants, Enfield tomorrow.
 
Following their game against Enfield, Dartford, who are unbeaten in four matches, entertain Harlow Town next Saturday at Stonebridge Road and could be celebrating reaching the play-offs at Barton Rovers on the last day of the season (29^th April).
 
Wivenhoe also travel to Enfield (who groundshare Ware’s Wodson’s Park) on the last day of the season but they won’t expect fifth placed Barking & East Ham United to roll over and die as they want to finish above Stamford to receive a home game in the play-off semi-finals.

“We know a little about every team but it’s just about what we do and our approach to the game on Monday is going to be the same as it’s been in the last few games.  We have to go there and win.  There’s no alternative now,” said Burman.

But I’m sure if Great Wakering Rovers secure all three points and Dartford win in Hertfordshire and secure a play-off place at the end of the month Burman will buy O’Connell a drink or two as the former Margate man will play for CHRIS KINNEAR’S REDS in the SYKO CHLLANGE at Hartsdown Park on Sunday, 30^th April (kick off 3pm).

Steve Binks, the Chatham Town manager, hopes his side bounce back after their defeat at Dartford to beat Sittingbourne for the first time this season.

Having lost to Steve Lovell’s side in the league (2-0) and in the first qualifying round of the FA Trophy (3-0) at Bourne Park earlier in the season, the long-serving Chatham stalwart will be hoping it’s third time lucky at Maidstone Road tomorrow.

“We’ve got three games to go and I think we’re capable of winning them all,” he said.

”Sittingbourne is a must-win game.  They’ve beaten us twice this season – against the run of play at times – and we’ll be all up for that game looking to get our own back.”

Although both sets of fans will be emotionally charged, Binks is staying calm.

He said: “I’ve got no grudges against Sittingbourne, their a good football club, really nice people – but I don’t like losing.

”We’ll be doing everything we can to beat them.  We’ve beaten Dartford twice this season and lost the third one.  Sittingbourne have beaten us twice this season – it’s our turn to win the third game.”

Chatham are five points shy of emulating last season’s total of 54 points having finished in eleventh place.

They are currently in 13^th place but are more than capable of improving on that.

”We’ve got a lot of teenagers in the side picking up some good experience and still bodes well for next season,” said Binks. 

Chatham end their campaign with a home game against Ilford next Saturday before a trip to Wingate & Finchley on 29^th April.
 
Sittingbourne finished last season in the bottom four with 42 points, and although they’ve collected the same amount of points this season are currently just one spot above the drop zone.
 
Yesterday they slumped to a 4-0 home defeat to Aveley, with Gary Dixon helping himself to a hat-trick.
 
But the Bourne Park outfit should have enough points to maintain their Southern League status and after their short trip to Maidstone Road they end their campaign against play-off side Stamford at Bourne Park next Saturday before a trip to Harlow Town on the final day.

Sittingbourne, who have lost their last three league games without scoring, welcome back James Campbell as a win will mathematically ensure their safety. 

But Joe Dowley, who was sent off playing Sunday League football, won't play again this season.

Berkhamsted Town’s good 4-1 win at Wingate & Finchley yesterday means if the Brickies fail to collect any points then Berkhamsted need to win all of their last three games to overtake Lovell’s side.

This, however, all depends on whether or not next year’s restructuring is to go ahead, and according to the Brickies website “strong indications are that it will.”

The statement added: “If they don’t go ahead then it is likely that the bottom two will be relegated bringing Ilford into the picture who will need two wins out of their last three games to overhaul Sittingbourne.”

Hopefully the game’s top brass will place Chatham Town, Dartford and Sittingbourne in the more lucrative Ryman League – where they belong.

Easter Monday, 17^th April 2006
Southern League Division One East
Both games kicking off at 3:00pm

ENFIELD v DARFORD
at Ware Football Club, Wodson Park, Ware, Hertfordshire

CHATHAM TOWN v SITTINGBOURNE
at Maidstone Road, Chatham