Isthmian Premier League Title Finale

After 37 weeks of twists, turns, ups, downs, and everything in between, the title race reaches a breathtaking conclusion this Saturday.

Billericay Town, Horsham, and Dartford head into the final day locked on 84 points, separated only by the smallest of goal difference margins. Three clubs competing for one title, and just 90 minutes to decide it.

With goal difference, goals scored, and perhaps even games won all coming into play, fans across the south-east are bracing for a nail-biting afternoon of twists, turns, and heartbreak. If any readers have seen the movie Cars, they’ll know that sometimes a race comes down to a three-way tie – except this one is all too real.

The Story of the Season

This season’s title race has been nothing short of epic, with momentum shifting multiple times and no one team dominating the division from August to April.

Dover Athletic flew out of the blocks with an 8-0 demolition of Potters Bar Town on the opening weekend, and Hastings United briefly led after Gameweek 2 but have since plummeted to relegation. Lewes were the early surprise package, leading for eight gameweeks throughout August, September, and October, but they couldn’t sustain their impressive form and now sit in 13th.

Dover took control from Gameweek 11 to 25, but a dip in form opened the door for Billericay Town. The Blues briefly reached the summit in Gameweek 26 after defeating Dulwich Hamlet, only for Dartford’s 4-0 thrashing of Billericay a week later to see the Kent side top the table.

The two sides have exchanged the top spot throughout the second half of the campaign, with Billericay reclaiming first place in Gameweek 32 and holding it for three weeks. However, Dartford surged back, taking advantage of Ricay’s home struggles to sit atop the table until Easter Monday, when a 2-2 draw with Cray Wanderers allowed Gary McCann’s Billericay side to take full advantage heading into Saturday's finale.

In fact, Horsham, despite being part of a three-way tie at the top heading into the final day, have never led the division at any point this season. Their only appearance in the top two came in Gameweek 4 and again in Gameweek 41 - the penultimate round.

Current League Table (after 41 games)

1) Billericay Town – 84 pts | +39 GD | 79 goals scored

2) Horsham – 84 pts | +38 GD | 77 goals scored

3) Dartford – 84 pts | +31 GD | 76 goals scored

It’s all level on points, with goal difference and goals scored the only separation between the top three sides. Billericay hold a slender edge in both categories, but any slip could cost them the title.

Permutations – Who Wins and How

With three teams locked on 84 points heading into the final day, the Isthmian Premier Division title will be decided by the slimmest of margins. Here's how each side can claim the crown, based on the league's tiebreakers: points, then goal difference, followed by goals scored, and finally games won if needed.

Billericay Town win the league IF:

- They win, and Horsham do not win by two or more goals more than Billericay. (e.g., if Billericay win 2-0, Horsham must win 4-0 to overtake them).

- They win, and neither Horsham nor Dartford win their matches.

- They draw, and both Horsham and Dartford lose.

- All three teams draw.

- All three lose, and Billericay do not lose by two or more goals more than Horsham.

Horsham win the league IF:

- They win by two or more goals more than Billericay.

- They win, and Billericay fail to win.

- They draw, and both Billericay and Dartford lose.

- All three lose, and Billericay lose by two or more goals more than Horsham.

- If Billericay and Horsham finish level on points, goal difference, and goals scored, Horsham take the title by virtue of having more games won (28 to Billericay's 26).

Dartford win the league IF:

- They win, and both Billericay and Horsham fail to win.

- They draw, and both rivals lose.

- They pull off an unlikely goal difference swing, winning by eight more goals than Horsham, and nine more than Billericay.
(e.g., if Billericay win 1-0, Dartford need to win 10-0 - highly improbable).

Final Day Fixtures – Saturday 26^th April – 3pm Kick-offs

Billericay Town (1^st) vs Cheshunt (15^th)

The league leaders head into the final day knowing a win could secure a third Isthmian Premier League title in 13 years. The Blues have won four of their last six, including a dominant 3-0 victory away at local rivals Canvey Island last time out, with goals from Frankie Merrifield, Tommy Davis, and a Decarrey Sheriff penalty. The win marked their third consecutive clean sheet, and they boast the league’s second-best defensive record (40 conceded).

Despite a recent wobble at home - losing three of their last four at New Lodge - they ended that run with a 2–0 win over Folkestone on Good Friday. Overall, McCann’s side have been outstanding at New Lodge, collecting 45 points from a possible 60 and scoring 40 goals while conceding just 18. With the Isthmian League Cup already in the trophy cabinet, ‘Ricay are chasing a historic double.

Cheshunt, meanwhile, arrive with very little to lose and a mixed bag of form. Their last six outings have seen them take six points, with a 3–1 win over Wingate & Finchley most recently. They sit middle of the away league table, having won eight of their 20 games, but they’ve won just one of their last six on the road - a 1–0 success at Dulwich Hamlet.

While they also hover around mid-table for goals scored and conceded, the Ambers will take encouragement from holding Billericay to a 1–1 draw back in August (under then-boss Craig Edwards). The Blues, however, dispatched Cheshunt 3–0 in the League Cup in November under the current regime.

With nothing on the line for the visitors, Billericay will be expected to take all three points, but recent home wobbles mean they can’t afford complacency.

Horsham (2^nd) vs Hashtag United (8^th)

Horsham’s title charge has gathered serious momentum, and they enter the weekend on a blistering run of form. On a run of seven straight wins, they’ve kept things watertight at the back, conceding only twice across those matches. Danny Barker and Shamir Fenelon were on target in Monday’s vital 3–1 comeback win at Bognor Regis, which kept the Hornets within a single goal of top spot, although James Hammond’s first-half penalty miss may prove crucial come Saturday.

Their home record is the best in the division - 46 points from a possible 60 - and they’ve conceded just 16 goals at the Camping World Community Stadium. Though they’ve slipped up four times at home this season, they’ve won eight of their last ten on their own turf, letting in just four goals during that stretch.

Visitors Hashtag United pose an unpredictable challenge. While they are the league’s top scorers with 81 goals, recent results have faltered. They’ve drawn back-to-back games against relegated opposition and have just one win from their last seven away trips, a 5–1 hammering of Potters Bar. Sitting 9th in the away form table, the Tags have proven they can score, but their inconsistency makes them hard to read. Horsham will take further confidence from their emphatic 4–1 win in the reverse fixture back in August.

The Hornets know a win - and either a Billericay slip or enough goals to swing the goal difference - could see them crowned champions for the first time.

Dartford (3^rd) vs Carshalton Athletic (7^th)

Dartford’s grip on top spot loosened on Monday after a 2–2 draw at Cray Wanderers, but they remain very much in the title picture. Callum Jones and Denzelle Olopade were both on the scoresheet, but a red card for Michael Olarewaju capped off a frustrating afternoon at Flamingo Park. Still, the Darts are unbeaten in six and have lost just two of their last 31 league games.

At home, they’ve been strong throughout the campaign, sitting fourth in the form table with 41 points from 60. They’ve only conceded 16 goals at Princes Park and haven’t lost at home since October. Their defence remains one of the tightest in the division, with 45 goals conceded overall - the third-best in the league.

Carshalton Athletic travel in solid scoring form, having netted eight times in their last two outings, including a thumping 5–1 win over Dulwich Hamlet last weekend. Their recent form is unpredictable, though, with three wins and three losses from their last six. They’ve won five of their last ten away games but also lost five, highlighting their inconsistency on the road. When these sides met in August, Dartford edged it 1–0, and they’ll need at least that again to keep their title hopes alive.

Dartford must win and hope the other two falter to climb back into first.

Players to Watch

As the pressure ramps up, individual moments of quality could decide the title. Here are the names most likely to make a difference for each contender.

Billericay Town will look to leading scorer Femi Akinwande, whose 14 goals have been vital throughout the second half of the campaign. But in recent weeks, it’s Frankie Merrifield who’s stolen the spotlight, with five goals in his last six appearances. Shot-stopper Sam Donkin has played every minute of the league season, keeping 15 clean sheets. One more could be enough to lead ‘Ricay to glory.

Horsham are spearheaded by the evergreen Chris Dickson, whose 14 goals at the age of 40 are a testament to his enduring class. Wide threats Ola Ogunwamide and Shamir Fenelon will inject pace and unpredictability, while Reece Myles-Meekums, a constant presence in midfield, will be key in unlocking Hashtag’s defence. Lewis Carey, in goal, has also played every league game and has been instrumental in the league’s best defence.

For Dartford, young striker Olly Box leads the scoring charts with 12 - an impressive tally for a player still finding his feet at this level. Samir Carruthers offers creativity in midfield, while Callum Jones remains a consistent goal threat. Despite the youthful make-up of the squad, the experience of 33-year-old centre-back Josh Hill (39 appearances this season) could prove crucial in handling the pressure of the final day.

These are the players who’ve carried their clubs to this point, and now, one or more may etch their names into history.

Previous Meetings

The three title challengers have faced each other multiple times this season, with momentum shifting across a series of fiercely contested fixtures.

Billericay Town enjoyed a flying start in their head-to-heads, thrashing Dartford 4-0 at New Lodge on October 8th, when the visitors were still finding their rhythm and sat 10th in the table. They followed that up with a 2-1 home win over Horsham on December 3rd, at a time when the Hornets were languishing in 14th.

But things soon turned. Horsham responded with a 1-0 win over Billericay in the return fixture on January 11th, showing how far they’d come in their rise up the table. Meanwhile, Dartford exacted revenge on Billericay just two weeks later with a resounding 4-0 victory on January 25^th - a significant statement in the title race.

The encounters between Horsham and Dartford have seen The Darts prevail on both occasions. Adrian Pennock’s side won 3-1 away on December 17th, before staging a stunning comeback on March 1st with two goals in the 89th and 90th minutes to claim a 2-1 win at home, a result that could yet prove decisive in the final standings.

As the final whistle draws near on a gripping Isthmian Premier Division campaign, the margins couldn’t be finer. Whether it’s Billericay completing the double, Horsham capping a relentless winning run, or Dartford's young side showing their prowess, only one will stand tallest come 5pm Saturday. For the rest, it may be a case of ‘what if’ in a season that has already delivered everything.