Match Preview - Billingham Synthonia (H) - Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Saturday 15th November - 15:00pm Kick-Off

by Jeff King

Another day, another crucial Division 2 fixture at The Riverside on Saturday as two in-form teams clash looking for vital points for totally different reasons at either end of the table.

The visiting Billingham Synthonia contingent despite being second-bottom of the table will travel in good heart. That's because they arrive on the back of four straight League wins that as lifted them off the bottom of the League.

Park View meanwhile have won three home games in a row lifting them back into 5th place and therefore the playoff positions. A win and three more points needed to keep that momentum going.

They also play, including Synners, three of the bottom four in their forthcoming fixtures so on paper an excellent opportunity to consolidate and even improve their position. But as we know games are not played on paper!

Synners on the other hand need the points to continue their quest to move up the League after a disastrous start to the season that included being docked six points for fielding an ineligible player.

On Wednesday Synners produced a five-star performance at Prudhoe defeating the home side 5 - 0. Park View's last fixture on Saturday an impressive 3 - 1 win against fellow playoff hopefuls Jarrow to complete a fine League double.

Sam Irvine is Billingham's top scorer with 6 league goals netted and overall they have 15 different players on the scoresheet this season. Nathan Conroy and Stephen Siyanbola both have 6 for Park View but neither scored last Saturday.

Where Synners have really struggled id defensively having conceded 49 goals to Park View's miserly 19. But they have kept two clean sheets in a row so may well have turned the corner there.

So, 5th versus 21st with 5th at home. Should be a straightforward home win then? Not in this Division it's not that's for sure especially given the recent form and results.

Kick-off at The Riverside is at 3:00pm for what should be a fascinating clash and remember, there's no local professional football in the region this weekend so why not get along and support Non-League football.