On Saturday, Phoenix Sports entertain Corinthian Casuals at their Mayplace Ground in Bexleyheath.
It will be the Tolworth based club’s first ever visit to Phoenix following the Sports switch from the Isthmian League North to the South during the summer.
Going into the game, Phoenix are eighth in the league on 40 points whilst Corinthian Casuals lie third with 49 points.
They came close to promotion last season when missing out in the play off decider to Dorking Wanderers. Now James Bracken’s Casuals will be hoping to push themselves into the top two and automatic promotion. They sit two points behind second placed Cray Wanderers at present, although they have played two games more.
Current form is slightly in favour of Phoenix who have won three, drawn one and lost two against a two / two / two record. However, Corinthian Casuals are enjoying better form away and have won two and drawn one of their last three on their travels.
When the teams met at King Georges Field in November, Paul Byron’s Sports came away with all three points. In what transpired to be his last game for the club before moving to Sevenoaks Town, Frankie Sawyer’s sixth league goal of the season put Phoenix ahead in the 34th minute.
Jeff Duah-Kessie added a second with six minutes remaining to ensure a good victory on the road. That was one of his eight goals in fourteen games so far and he’ll be keen to add to his tally.
Predicting the starting line up is difficult as the festive season might take its toll. Four games in nine days, which includes two local derbies, puts the pressure on and Bryon may need to utilise his full squad.