It’s an “away” day with a twist this weekend for Hoddesdon Town FC, as the Lilywhites travel absolutely nowhere. Saturday’s fixture against Dunmow Town takes place at Lowfield, Hoddesdon’s own home ground, where Dunmow are currently groundsharing for the 2025/26 campaign. It means that, in one of the quirkiest fixtures of the season, Hoddesdon will walk into their own dressing room, cross the familiar white line, and yet technically be the away side. For Simon Riddle's men, who are fresh from their first league win of the season – a resounding 5–1 triumph over May & Baker EC on Tuesday night – it’s an opportunity to build momentum and finally turn a corner in their campaign.

Confidence Returns to Lowfield

That midweek win felt like a turning point. After a gruelling couple of months of the season that yielded just one point from ten league games, Hoddesdon’s players finally produced the sort of performance supporters had been waiting for. From the first whistle against May & Baker, there was energy, purpose, and – crucially – goals. The Lilywhites pressed with intensity, passed with conviction, and looked a side reborn. The 5–1 victory was not only comprehensive but cathartic, a release of weeks of frustration. It was a night when everything clicked: the finishing was ruthless, the defensive shape was disciplined, and the belief visibly flooded back into the squad. For the first time this season, Hoddesdon looked like the team that had promised so much in pre-season.

“That was more like us,” was the general feeling around Lowfield on Tuesday night. Goals came from multiple sources, the midfield pressed as a unit, and the back line – which had been under pressure in recent weeks – held firm even after May & Baker briefly threatened a comeback. The challenge now is to back it up. One result doesn’t define a season, but it can start to change its direction – and Hoddesdon will travel (figuratively speaking) into Saturday’s match with renewed optimism.

The Hosts Who Aren’t at Home

While Hoddesdon look to climb off the bottom of the table, Dunmow Town are themselves searching for consistency in what has been a rollercoaster start to their First Division South campaign. Dunmow currently sit 14th in the league with 18 points from 14 games (5 wins, 3 draws, 6 defeats). Their record paints a picture of a team capable of big performances but prone to lapses in concentration – sometimes in the same match.

Their recent results show just that. Dunmow’s last five outings have produced a mixed bag:

W 3–1 vs Burnham Ramblers (A)
L 0–2 vs Lymore Gardens (A)
W 3–2 vs FC Romania (H)
D 4–4 vs NW London (H)
W 4–2 vs Burnham Ramblers (H)

That sequence – three wins, one draw, one defeat – suggests they’ve finally found some rhythm after a difficult September that saw them lose five of six league matches. Their October resurgence has lifted spirits, especially last Friday’s 3–1 win at Burnham Ramblers. Dunmow are scoring freely now – 14 goals in their last five games – but they’ve also conceded 11 in that time, underlining a defensive fragility Hoddesdon will be eager to exploit.

A Look at the Numbers

From the data, Dunmow appear a side that attack with flair but can be caught open when pressed high or forced into errors at the back.

Top Scorer: Darnell Fuller – 14 goals in 13 appearances, including several decisive finishes in recent games.
Key Contributors: Clarence Emeh (3 goals), Bobby John Bolden (2), Aaron Browne (1), and Jakub Dobrzynski (1).
Most Assists: Fuller also leads in overall goal involvement, regularly involved in link-up play.
Discipline: Jakim Parillon-Antoine and Endrit Krasniqi have each collected multiple cards, highlighting their combative style.
Defensive Record: 28 goals conceded in 14 games – two per match on average.

Fuller has been Dunmow’s talisman, a dynamic forward with the pace to trouble any defence in the league. When he’s on song, Dunmow look a different side. He’s capable of both poaching in the box and striking from distance, and Hoddesdon’s back line will need to keep him quiet if they want to extend their own momentum. Alongside him, Bobby John Bolden provides width and unpredictability, while Aaron Browne has chipped in from midfield. Captain Delphin Moorat, ever-present across all 14 league fixtures, anchors the defence but will have his hands full against a Hoddesdon side that just put five past May & Baker.

A Home from Home

Saturday’s game might be officially listed as Dunmow’s home fixture, but everything about the day will feel familiar for Hoddesdon’s players and supporters. With Dunmow using Lowfield as their temporary base this season, the Lilywhites find themselves in the unique position of being “away” in their own stadium – the same changing rooms, the same pitch, the same supporters in the stands. It’s a situation that could work in their favour. For all the strangeness of the fixture, Hoddesdon know every inch of that turf. They’ll know how it plays, how the wind swirls around the ground, and which corners can be exploited on set pieces.

The psychological element, though, will be fascinating. Dunmow have enjoyed some of their better performances at Lowfield this season, and they’ll view it as home for the day. Hoddesdon, meanwhile, have to channel that same energy they showed on Tuesday night and make sure they’re the ones dictating play – not the “hosts”.

Head-to-Head and Recent Context

This will be the first league meeting of the season between the two sides, and both will feel they have something to prove. For Hoddesdon, it’s a chance to build on their first win of the campaign and close the gap to the teams above. A second successive victory could see them move within touching distance of Enfield Borough and Cannons Wood, who sit just ahead of them in 20th and 19th.

For Dunmow, victory would help consolidate mid-table security and distance themselves from the lower pack. With 18 points already, they’re not in immediate danger, but they’ll be aware how quickly a few defeats can drag teams down in such a competitive division.

Interestingly, both sides share one opponent in common in recent times: May & Baker EC. Dunmow beat them 5–1 at the end of September, and Hoddesdon repeated that exact scoreline on Tuesday night. It sets the stage for an intriguing battle of confidence – two teams buoyed by the same result, looking to prove their form wasn’t a fluke.

Tactical Outlook

Dunmow’s style is expansive. They prefer to play through the thirds, moving the ball wide quickly to stretch teams. Fuller is the focal point up top, often supported by the pace of Bolden and the creativity of Browne. Expect them to press high early on, especially knowing that Hoddesdon have struggled in previous games when put under early pressure. However, Hoddesdon’s midweek display showed a tactical flexibility that may catch Dunmow off guard. Riddle’s men combined compact defending with swift counter-attacks, often exploiting the spaces behind opposition full-backs. If they can reproduce that blueprint, they’ll have opportunities. Dunmow’s defence has been breached in all but one of their last nine matches, and with players rediscovering their attacking rhythm, Hoddesdon have reason to believe.

The midfield battle will be crucial. Players like Pooja Karimi and Jakim Parillon-Antoine for Dunmow are strong in the challenge but can be drawn into fouls. Hoddesdon’s task will be to stay composed, keep the ball moving quickly, and draw their opponents out of shape.

What the Form Says

A look at the recent form tables tells a revealing story.

Dunmow Town:

Played 14 – Won 5, Drawn 3, Lost 6
Goals For: 25 | Goals Against: 28 | Goal Difference: -3
Recent form: W–L–W–D–W

Hoddesdon Town:

Played 11 – Won 1, Drawn 1, Lost 9
Goals For: 14 | Goals Against: 30 | Goal Difference: -16
Recent form: W-W-L-D-L

While Dunmow’s recent upswing has lifted them clear of the bottom four, Hoddesdon’s story has been one of frustration until that emphatic midweek turnaround. They’ve been competitive in several matches – drawing 2-2 at home to Hutton and narrowly losing to NW London– but results simply hadn’t followed. Tuesday’s win, though, changed everything. The players’ reactions at full time – fists clenched, supporters applauding – told of a collective belief that things can finally change.

The Manager’s View

While Simon Riddle has kept his cards close to his chest this week, he’ll surely remind his players that complacency must be avoided. Tuesday night’s victory will count for little if it isn’t followed up with another committed performance.

“That win was what we needed, but it has to be the start of something, not the end of it,” he said. “The lads have shown what they’re capable of. Now we’ve got to go again – same energy, same hunger, same togetherness.”

The supporters, too, will play their part. With the fixture being held at Lowfield, Hoddesdon’s fans will be in full voice – even if technically they’re the “away” end. That familiar roar could make a real difference once again.

Players to Watch

For Dunmow Town:
Darnell Fuller – lethal in front of goal; 14 strikes already this term.
Clarence Emeh – capable of producing moments of magic.
Jakim Parillon-Antoine – box-to-box midfielder, physical and competitive.

For Hoddesdon Town:
Connor Casey – riding high after Tuesday’s brace and 6 in 11 now.
Jack Gibbs – led by example in midweek, commanding presence.
Liam Nugent – will need to be sharp again against a Dunmow side who love to shoot from distance.
Bailey Collins - a man of the match performance on Tuesday and quickly becoming integral.

The Bigger Picture

This fixture kicks off a crucial November run for Hoddesdon. After Dunmow, they face several winnable games that could see them haul themselves back into the mix for safety. With 29 league matches still to play, there’s time to climb – but points must start coming quickly. Dunmow, meanwhile, will be aiming to keep building after October’s improvement. They’ve already shown they can beat teams near the top and will look at this as a must-win to maintain mid-table stability.

But for Hoddesdon, this is about belief. The first win is on the board. The shackles are off. The goals have started flowing. And now, in their own backyard – albeit as “visitors” – they have a golden opportunity to write the next chapter of their revival.

Match Information

Fixture: Dunmow Town vs Hoddesdon Town FC
Competition: First Division South
Date: Saturday 1 November 2025
Kick-Off: 3:00pm
Venue: Lowfield Stadium (Dunmow Town home fixture)
Admission: As this is Dunmow Town's home game, their admission prices will apply and Hoddesdon Season tickets and usual concessions and discounts will not apply. Please contact Dunmow for confirmation.
Supporters: All welcome – Hoddesdon fans encouraged to attend and get behind the team

Final Word

It’s not often you get an “away” match in your own ground, but that’s exactly what Saturday brings. A unique setting, a buoyant mood after Tuesday night, and a chance to prove that the fightback is on. Dunmow will provide stern opposition – lively going forward and dangerous when given space – but Hoddesdon now have the belief, the backing, and the momentum to go toe-to-toe.

Lowfield under the floodlights on Tuesday felt like the start of something special. Saturday afternoon offers the perfect stage to keep that spark alive. If Hoddesdon can channel that same hunger, there’s every chance the Lilywhites could make it two wins in a week – and take another vital step up the table.

See you there.

#COYL