Great football, quality beer, delicious food and good company are all on the menu this weekend at Lowfield, and to top it all off, entry is FREE to everybody.

As part of Non League Day, we will be encouraging everybody to come and pay us a visit and see what Hoddesdon Town Football Club is all about, and you can read more about the event by clicking HERE.

Having had their midweek trip to Burnham Ramblers postponed on Tuesday, the Lilywhites will be well rested and raring to go for another league game where they will be looking to further climb up the league table and finish strongly. The added carrott for the team is putting on a good showing before the cup final next Wednesday but attention must stay on this game first and any sideways glances at next weeks show piece event could prove costly for Simon Riddle's men.

The boys will be looking to avenge the narrow 3-2 defeat that Basildon inflicted on them back on the 15th of December.

After a first-half performance that produced a one-goal lead that really should have been more, the Lilywhites then experienced a dramatic change of fortune and came away losing a game they should have won.

When Narcis Filipe struck a 20th-minute opener, the Lilywhites had already carved out two golden scoring opportunities that were denied in the first instance by a good save and in the second, a clearance off the line with the keeper beaten. The Lilywhites continued to dominate but failing to add to their earlier goal and always having to be mindful of the hosts’ threats on the break.

The second half saw a complete change in emphasis with the hosts opting to by-pass their midfield by taking a direct approach from the back. And their change in approach brought an almost immediate reward when they won and converted a penalty seven minutes in. The game opened up and it was the hosts who took advantage, scoring two further goals, in quick succession, in the 68th and 73rd minutes. The Lilywhites rallied and pulled a goal back with eight minutes of normal time remaining. Narcis Filipe cut inside from the left and fired off a fierce drive that struck the underside of the bar and rebounded down for Callum Bennison to force the ball home. After this the Lilywhites huffed and puffed but their efforts proved fruitless and, when the final whistle was blown, they were forced to reflect on a game in which they had enough chances to win but came away with nothing.

Defeat at Rookery Hill will still sting for the boys and Saturday is an opportunity to put that right in front of their own fans.

Our visitors will prove a tough nut to crack. Formed as South Basildon & Vange in 1946, the club entered the Grays & District Minor League in 1947, renaming themselves to Basildon Town a year later whilst in the Southend & District League. In 1964, the club merged with Pitsea United to form Basildon & Pitsea, becoming founder members of the Essex Olympian League in 1966. Two years later, the club reconstituted back to Basildon Town. In 2022, after winning the Essex Olympian League, the club was admitted into the Eastern Counties League Division One South and it was announced the club would enter a groundsharing agreement with East Thurrock United at Rookery Hill.

It has been a mixed season for Basildon Town and they sit just one place above the Lilywhites, separated by just two points. With Basildon in 12th and Hoddesdon in 13th, either the home team will leapfrog the away team or the away team will solidify it's place and extend it's lead. Either way, it is sure to be an entertaining game.

Our visitors league record this season reads as follow:

P33 W11 D8 L14 GD -11 PTS 41

In that time, they have scored 53 and conceded 64. Away form is slightly worse than when playing at home, reading won 4, drawn 4, lost 8, scoring 26 and conceding 37. That includes an 8-3 away defeat to bottom side St Margaretsbury back on the 21st of October, when the club found themselves without a manager. Basildon Town chairman Bob Moorcraft was dealt a blow in early October when his manager, Marcus Bowers, decided to leave the club in an effort to further his career, taking the reigns at Great Wakering Rovers.

Three weeks later, on the 1st of November, the club announced former May & Baker joint manager Alec Simm as their new gaffer. It was a baptism of fire for Simm as he faced Harlow Town in his first game in charge, resulting in a 4-0 home defeat in the league challenge cup. A series of defeats, as well as postponed games, meant that Simm had to wait until the 16th of December for his first win as manager, ironically in the afore mentioned league game against Hoddesdon Town. Simm's record since joining the club reads played 18, won 6, drawn 3 and lost 9, scoring 24 and conceding 37.

Last time out, they secured all three points with a tight 3-2 win at home to Burnham Ramblers last Satuday. Goals from Jahvid Irish, Daniel Taylor and Dylan Jones secured victory and you can watch highlights from that game HERE.

The afore mentioned Dylan Jones is the clubs leading goalscorer this season, with 8 goals in 20 appearances this season, 19 of them in the starting line up. Indeed, Jones grabbed the Basildon Town man of the match award against Hoddesdon in their 3-2 win. Rhys Fatt scored 4 in 11 games for Town before dealing the club a real blow, by making the move across Essex and joining title chasing Benfleet, where he has been prolific in front of goal, amassing 19 goals in 20 appearances. Experienced former Frenford FC goalkeeper Matt Knight rejoined the club back in February from the Essex Senior League Premier Division, and will be looking to keep his first clean sheet for the team in 8 attempts between the sticks.

Hoddesdon's last outing was the superb 4-1 away win against Dunmow Town at the home of Heybridge Swifts. You can read the full match report from that game HERE. A Harrison Cage brace set the lads up for a fine victory against a top 5 team and solidified the form they have shown throughout 2024, enabling them to pull themselves away from danger and challenge for a mid table place come the end of the season. However, the Lilywhites cannot afford to take their foot off the pedal, with a tricky encounter against a side that has already beaten them once this season.

You can follow Basildon Town on Twitter/X HERE.

Kick Off on Saturday is 3pm and the clubhouse bar and tea bar will be open, serving hot and cold refreshments. Sample our draught range at the bar, with Spanish favourite Cruzcampo Lager, Greene Kings delicious Ice Breaker IPA and Inch's Apple Cider at the taps this weekend.

Entry to the game is FREE to celebrate Non League Day

The bar and tea bar at Lowfield accept Cash and Card (excludes American Express)

Enjoy the game.

#COYL