Eversley & California are currently 18th in the Combined Counties Premier Division South table with 18 points from 21 games. Thatcham are one place and one point behind, though have played 2 games fewer.

The Boars’ last victory came at the start of November when they defeated Guildford City 4-3. They have picked up away points at Epsom & Ewell and Chipstead, but last weekend they were beaten 4-1 at home by Tadley Calleva, with top scorer Ollie Noyes netting their consolation.

Henry Paxford remains The Boars’ second top scorer. He joined Thatcham in October, struck twice on his debut in the defeat to Tooting & Mitcham, but only made 4 further appearances in a stop-start spell at the Mettal Stadium. Paxford seems to have made the decision to return to Eversley and may line up against Town this afternoon.

This is Eversley’s first season playing at step five. Last year they won promotion from Division One, when after finishing fourth they won play-off ties at both Penn & Tylers Green and Westside. The Kingfishers entered this division from the other direction but regardless, both are in urgent need of points to climb the table, and although we are still in November this game has the feel of a six-pointer.

Ahead of the game Town manager Cameron Philbey said,

“The Abbey Rangers performance was really disappointing. We were very slow out of the blocks, they pressed us well and we just lost our way. We were better in the second half but they had taken their foot off the gas by then, and we still didn’t create enough.

However the performance on Saturday at Knaphill was really pleasing. After the match I told them how well they had defended, and how threatening and creative the wide players had been. Sure, Knaphill missed some good chances, but we also had some opportunities to extend our lead too. Beating the second placed team will go a long way towards catching teams up.

We are starting to get some injured players back, with Callum Winchcombe, Junior Da Cruz and Kye Williams all close, and also Callum Willmoth is available following suspension. In
addition we are looking to announce a couple more new players.

This is very good timing ahead of what is basically a six pointer against Eversley & California, which is followed by a run of fixtures against bottom-half sides."