WEATHER PERMITTING

Hmmmm, yes, let's hope we are all here at The Pilot Field for this afternoon's league encounter with Margate - which comes just a few weeks after the away game at Hartsdown Park from which we came away with 3 points after a 2-1 win. Margate have been struggling of late and will have breathed a big sigh of relief after seeing off Wingate & Finchley last weekend. Deadlines mean I knock this column up not knowing how they got on at Kingstonian on Wednesday evening.

referee to decide otherwise. Result - one wasted trip for all concerned, United copping their travel costs and all the overnight graft by Simon Rudkins and his crew - for nothing.

There's only one way to deal with situations like that. It had been sub zero all week - so just bite the bullet and postpone the day before. No football, people brassed off all round, nobody happy - but uncertainty removed and that worst option of opposition travelling for nothingavoided. Enfield's wasn't the only wasted journey. Home clubs picking up the travel tab adds insult to injury!

Of course you can have an improvement in the weather over Friday night. Weather forecasts are more reliable so you could argue for giving it a go. Which United did a fortnight ago - for nothing.

The officials deciding whether to play or not are on a hiding to nothing. Game off brasses off lots of people, game on and players pick up injuries on rock hard areas where the sun didn't reachquestions asked re the decision to play the game.

The weather usually plays a disruptive part in the football season this time of the year. And it has certainly been at it's worst this last few weeks.

A fortnight ago, Enfield Town were here - but not for long. They made their way down from North of the River on the basis of the favourable pitch inspection that morning only for the match

Best efforts overnight to get the Enfield Town game on came to nothing.

Hit And Miss

It is a bit, lately, eh. Aveley are turning into a bogey side for us, two encounters this season both ending 2-1 to them. Ahead for best part of an hour at their place a week ago, Monday - then we conceded two in a couple of minutes.

The goals against column still looks very respectable with only Bishop's Stortford having conceded less as of a week ago, but we are leaking them of late. Coincidence that it tallies up with no Tom Chalmers up and down that right flank? Whatever, it'll be good to see him back. nearly 70 years. I'm sure many of you will recognise John .......

Goals for remains an issue with United well down that list. After last weekend's games, just 5 clubs had scored less than the U's. You certainly can't say Gary isn't looking to resolve that problem! Getting difficult keeping up with the comings and goings eh!

And no goals from the encounter a week ago at Haringey Borough where there was to be no U's comeback as we saw at Brightlingsea Regent and indeed, the home encounter a few weeks ago with Borough.

Red Card Mayhem

I meant to share this classic earlier this season. Southern Counties Football League division 2where teams often each appoint a lino. Worthing Town were at Bosham, 3-0 up at half time. A Worthing red card was followed by Bosham getting a goal back. Then 3-2 in the 89th minute and it really kicked off as 4 red cards were produced in the 11 minutes that were still to be eventually played. A Bosham player, a Worthing player, the Worthing manager and the creme de la carte rouge creme - the Worthing lino saw red!

Haringey have gone down the digital road with their programme. The link is above and worth noting down so you can read what Jenny Collins has to say in her, er, Bell End article. Remember the bell ringing up in the main stand up to a few years ago? That was her dad who was a U's and Town supporter for

Old Favourites Going Well

Two or three weeks ago saw a couple of our ex Hastings Town lads coming up against each other in the technical areas at The Arctic Stadium where Cray Valley were taking on league leaders Ramsgate.