Windsor currently hold a three point lead after comfortably beating Hungerford Town 3-0 in midweek but Totton have two games in hand. Neither side can afford to slip up as defeat would give all the momentum to the winning side through Christmas and into the New Year.

Three goals in 25 minutes courtesy of Michael Chennels, Victor Osobu and David Pearce earned Windsor a well deserved victory away at Hungerford on Tuesday evening. The win put Keith Scott’s men back on top after losing the lead to Totton via goal difference last weekend.

Stuart Richie’s Totton put their recent 2-0 defeat at home to VT FC in the Second Round of the Red Insure Cup behind them by smashing five past league struggles AFC Hayes to go temporarily top last weekend.

The two sides have only met twice in recent history, drawing 1-1 at Testwood Park and a 2-1 win for the, ‘Royalists’ at Stag Meadow in the league last season.

The current league table suggests there is very little between the two teams. Both have won 12 of their games to date, scoring 29 goals each. Windsor currently have the best defence in the league conceding just ten, compared to Totton’s 11. Richie’s side lost their opening game 1-0 to Andover but have won their last 11 league games. They have only recorded two clean sheets in their last ten games. Scott’s Windsor are still unbeaten, and recorded their third consecutive clean sheet in midweek.

Strikers Chennels and Osobu have ten and seven goals respectively this season whilst midfielder Matt Seedel and defender Andy Fagan have contributed with five a piece. However, Totton can also score goals from all areas of the pitch. Nathaniel Sherbourne (11), and Nathan Jack (9), have been scoring from the front with wide midfielders Brett Williams, Mike Gosney, and Aaron Couch have netted 20 times between them.

The, ‘stags’ have made massive strides since their first league success in the Hampshire League Division One in the early 80’s. Notably missing out in the final of the FA Carlsberg Vase at the new Wembley in 2007 in front of a 36,000 crowd, and losing in the play-off final in their first season of Southern League football.

They too realise the importance of this game, posting on their club website: “Next up is Windsor for the crunch match. We will be looking to go there with a positive attitude. We are determined to keep our match winning sequence going and put some daylight between us and them. The pressure is more on them as they are unbeaten and playing at home.”

Speaking to the Windsor & Maidenhead Observer Scott said: “It’s a great game. I’m really looking forward to it. The players are looking forward to it too. It’s between two good sides that, having lost in the play-off semi and final to Didcot (Town) last year, are being tipped to win it. Totton and ourselves are seen as title favourites but I don’t buy into that. There are quite a few teams like Paulton (Rovers) and Gosport (Borough) who can make a dent in that.”