The Isthmian League Premier Division title race is heating up, with Hornchurch FC, Chatham Town and Billericay Town all in with a chance of lifting the title as we enter the last few stages of the season.
Currently, Hornchurch FC are running away with the league under new manger
Daryl McMahon. As it stands, they are 9 points clear at the top with two games in hand in the league.
In this article, I will take look at the title contenders and their chances of lifting the trophy come the end of the season.
Hornchurch
Hornchurch FC are certainly the favourites to win the league after the season they are having.
Hornchurch fans will be hoping to see their new manager, Daryl McMahon and the team lift the League title at the end of the season, due to the heartache of the past two seasons in the play off finals. but do the Urchins have what it takes to do it?
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If Hornchurch continue their recent form, they will certainly be the title winners. McMahon’s side have been in excellent form of late, picking up wins in five of their last six fixtures, are also unbeaten in the last eleven games since losing to Chatham in December, the only loss so far this season. Last time out, they impressed in a convincing 3-0 win at home to Haringey Borough, in which they were boosted by the return of starboy Liam Nash.
Daryl McMahon with his assistant Steve Gritt on the touchline.
Liam Nash scored on his return from injury, which did force him to be out of the in form team for a while and it was a huge blow. The return of their key player will be a huge boost towards their title hopes, as Nash will now try to build to win the title and on his goal tally, sixteen goals.
Liam Nash Returns from injury.
Another huge boost for Hornchurch last weekend was the majority of key players returning from Injury. The main goalkeeper Joe Wright, Defenders Tommie Hoban and Nathan Cooper and Liam Nash all returned. Hornchurch fans will be excited to see them return and will potentially help guide the Urchins to the title.
Also, new signing Mauro Da Silva Vilhete has been outstanding since making his move from National League strugglers , Southend United. He is well known to play under Daryl McMahon and has scored in his opening two games for the Urchins, both from corners and He certainly gets the fans excited .... DA SILVA!!!
Inform Mauro Da Silva Vilhete on the ball against Haringey Borough.
As it stands, Hornchurch FC fans will take encouragement from the fact that the title is in their hands – if they are able to win their games (require eight wins, 24 points to seal the title), including the visit of Billericay and Chatham at home in the next few months, the title will be theirs.
Next Up for Hornchurch is Hastings United away tomorrow at 3pm, with a huge away following travelling to support the Urchins! Safe Travels and hopefully you's will have a great day!
Hornchurch's Fans after away win at Dulwich Hamlet with Manager Daryl McMahon
Chatham Town
Every year there is always a newly promoted side near the race for the title.
This time, it's Chatham Town. They started the season really well under manager Kevin Hake and then had a little period lately of win and defeat, but still are sitting in second place. Chatham lost to in form/playoff chasers Wingate and Finchley and Bogner Regis away and Hashtag Utd at home, after the weirdest own goals of the season. But since then, they've certainly found their feet again in the league, winning against Margate and Lewes.
Now, Chatham will try and push above their expectations for the title. It certainly will be a tough ask to go and win the League title with the ruthless Urchins, who are slightly running away with it, but Chatham definitely do look like securing a play off place, but the fans and the team are hoping for a slip up from the Urchins.
Chatham Town Fans Watching their team!
Chatham have got a mixture of fixtures coming up over the next few months and will hope to pick up points, but next up for them is title/play off pushers Billericay Town at home, Kick off is at 3pm.
Billericay Town
At the start of the season, Billericay Town were strong second favourites for the title under new manager, Garry McCann. Billericay Town invested in their squad over the summer, signing majority of Bishop Stortford's winning Isthmian League Premier Division team.
But Billericay Town have had a mixture of a season, either being really good or really bad. Lately, Billericay have lost five in the last seven games in the league, which is a major concern. The latest result was a 2-1 defeat against relegation survival battlers Concord Rangers away from home.
Billericay have got really tough games coming up against teams that are around them, who are chasing for the title/play offs, which will now test how Billericay can react from recent results.
Billericay fans will be hoping that the team can turn it around and chase towards a title push. But due to recent form, will they be included in the race for the title or will they try to just secure a play off place.
Next up for Billericay Town, as said above, is title/play off rivals Chatham Town away from home. Kick off is at 3pm.
Billericay Town Fans cheering on their team after recent results.
But as the Isthmian League Premier Divison season progresses closer to the end, the race for the title is shaping up to be a thrilling one. With several top teams vying for the coveted trophy. The team that looks more likely to win the League is Hornchurch, due to having a stronger and more experienced team than the others. But, we will all find out very soon of who will have the crown on at the end of the season.
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