It will be a full calendar month since Hoddesdon last played a competitive game of football, with three home games and one away, falling foul of some awful weather to start the year off. The 1-1 home draw to Harlow is a distant memory now and Simon Riddle's men have fallen behind severely in terms of games played. Games in hand over your rivals is always good to have in your pocket, but that's no substitute for regular football, continuity and points in the bag. We are a full six games behind league leaders Harlow Town, and although they cannot realistically be caught this season, the lads have firmly placed themselves in the play off conversation this season and will need to muster some sort of rhythm going into the weekend if they are to sustain what so far has been a promising league campaign.

Normally at this juncture, this reporter likes to talk about form and recent stats, but with zero football in four long weeks, it's very hard to express any thoughts or feelings on where the team currently are in terms of their performance.

What we can say though is that we are handily placed in 7th with a record of played 23, won 11, drawn 7, lost 5 with a goal difference of +12 and 40 points on the board. Compare that to 12 months ago when Hoddesdon were in a relegation threatened 20th place with a record of played 25, won 7, drawn 6, lost 12, a goal difference of -3 and just 27 points on the board. The change in fortunes is staggering and although we are out of all the cup competitions this season at an early stage, the bread and butter of league football has seen a huge improvement, which the team are to be congratulated for.

Perhaps an indication of the Lilywhites troubles last season, this fixture ended in a thoroughly disappointing 1-0 loss during the previous campaign. A game that started promisingly was transformed in the 22nd minute when the visitors scored what can only be described as a ‘soft’ goal with a rare attack on the home goal.

Early pressure from the Lilywhites put the visitors on the back foot and should perhaps have produced a goal in only the 5th minute when Jack Gibbs glanced a free header wide of the mark from a corner on the left. The visitors had been penned in their own half but soon gave an indication that they couldn’t be underestimated when they struck the bar with a 20-yard free-kick that they had earned from their first real attack. The Lilywhites continued to stay on top and a second good opportunity fell them in the 20th minute when Tyler Blackwood cleverly created an opening for himself but, with only the keeper to beat, he shot over the target.

The tide turned two minutes later, though, when the visitors broke up their left and were allowed to work their way towards the near post and squeeze the ball under Liam Nugent for George Hart to bundle home. This goal seemed to unsettle that Lilywhites and the visitors were, in turn, clearly encouraged by it. Just before the half-hour mark, Liam Nugent was forced into making a good save and moments later things went from bad to worse for the Lilywhites when Ben Clarke was sin-binned for venting his frustration on the referee. The visitors missed a good opportunity to double their lead in the 38th minute and might have been made to pay a minute later when the Lilywhites won a free-kick on the edge of the box. Regrettably, however, Tyler Blackwood fired his effort high over the bar.

The half finished with the Manor getting on top and forcing another save from Liam Nugent low down to his right.

The second opened with the Lilywhites still struggling to find any rhythm and manager Simon Riddle was forced to quickly make substitutions in an effort to turn matters around. They appeared to be working when the Lilywhites suffered a further setback when Callum Bennison was sin-binned for showing dissatisfaction with the referee’s decision on what he felt should have been a goal-kick rather than a corner. Despite again having to spend ten minutes with ten men, the Lilywhites began to take the upper hand and with nine minutes of added-time being played, they had two good opportunities to equalise. Firstly, Sam Cross hit a free-kick from the edge of the box over the bar, and then a Hadley Richards corner from the right caused chaos in the six-yard area and the visitors were very relieved when they managed to scramble the ball away from close to their goal-line.

Man-of-the Match that day was Liam Nugent.

It's fair to say that we owe Southend Manor one. The reverse fixture down on the coast ended in a comprehensive 3-1 win for Manor and the lads will still be smarting from that early season defeat at the start of August. Hoddesdon started that game at the top of the league after two solid away wins to kick off this season, but failed to make it 3 out of 3. It took only six minutes for Ross Barnes to have the ball in the net for Southend Manor. It was then a case of 'one brings two' as a misplaced backpass allowed Louie Rodmell in to add Manor's second just a few minutes later. The next blow was not far away though as Town lost the influential Connor Casey at half time and the third Manor goal arrived on 47mins to make it 3-0, leaving Lilywhites with a mountain to climb. Top goalscorer Connor Bolton pinched an 83rd minute consolation to add a modicum of respect to the scoreline, but in truth, Hoddesdon were outclassed that day and will surely look to right a wrong this weekend. That win placed Southend Manor at the top of the league after their opening two league games.

Ironically, our visitors haven't faired well in the league this season since that victory.

Currently sitting in 18th place and well and truly embroiled in a relegation battle again this season, Manor have not registered a win since the 12th of October, and have only managed to claim all three points on 5 occasions this season from their 25 games played. Only Newbury Forest (4) and bottom placed St Margaretsbury (3) have won less games and 62 goals conceded so far, gives an average of 2.48 conceded per game. On the road, Manor have managed just one win this season, a 3-1 success on their visit to basement boys St Mags, and gaffer Simon Riddle will be hoping that that lack of success on the road continues at Lowfield on Saturday.

Last time out, Manor lost 3-1 away to champions in waiting, Harlow Town, and you can watch highlights from that game HERE. Two wins in their last 15 games has contributed to Manor's demise but buoyed by their win in the home fixture, they will certainly be up for this one and looking to take all six points off of the Lilywhites this season.

Lenny Asamoah has an impressive 10 goals in 13 appearances for our opponents this season, and Louie Rodmell, Hoddesdon's tormentor back in August, also has 9 in the same amount of games. Manager Mark Royal will be hopeful that his two hot shots will be on song as they make their journey west along the A127 on Saturday afternoon.

Entry on Saturday is £8 Adults and £5 Concessions, Under12s FREE.

We invite all our supporters, old and new, to head to Lowfield where a warm welcome is waiting for you. Hoddesdon Town FC is embarking on a new era and we are working closely with our co-tenants, Hoddesdon Cricket Club, and the wider local community, to bring you a multi sports venue to be proud of, and create a local hub for everybody. Opening up our club to all is at the top of our agenda and your support is hugely appreciated. Our tea bar will be open serving hot and cold refreshments, as well the bar inside the clubhouse where you will find great beers, ciders and stout on draught, in conjunction with our partner and sponsor, Greene King. Indeed, Greene King's delicious Level Head IPA is our new Man of the Match sponsor, and winners will be presented with a case for their efforts.

Lowfield365 Members will enjoy a considerable discount on their round at the bar, often up to 20% on selected items, and memberships are available at the bar, or at the Club Shop by clicking HERE.

Kick Off is 3pm.

Enjoy the game.

#COYL