So, who’s going to win a thrilling Wessex League title race?

AFC Stoneham are currently top, and aiming to win the championship just 12 months after lifting the Division 1 title.

But the three teams immediately below them - Alresford, AFC Portchester and Christchurch - would all overtake the leaders if they won their games in hand.

None of the top four clubs have ever won the Wessex title, but all are in contention for the 2019/20 crown and the automatic promotion place to the Southern League that accompanies it.

Whoever finishes runners-up could also win promotion - either automatically, depending on how many points they collect, or via a play-off against a club who finishes bottom of a step 4 league.

Here, The News takes a closer look at what promises to be one of the most thrilling Wessex finales for many years ...

Current form

Christchurch are aiming for their sixth successive Wessex League victory this weekend.

They host mid-table Tadley having not conceded a goal in any of their last five games.

In addition, they spanked Brockenhurst 4-0 on Tuesday to reach the semi-finals of the Russell Cotes Cup.

Next Tuesday they host Bournemouth for a place in the semi-finals of the Wessex League Cup.

With that in mind, could fixture congestion derail their bid for a first ever Wessex League title?

Leaders AFC Stoneham have the worst recent record of any of the top four clubs.

They have only picked up 10 points from their last six games, all of which have taken place at their new Stoneham Lane HQ.

Mick Catlin’s AFC Portchester will be looking for their fifth straight league win at Fleet this weekend, while Alresford have won five of their last six games.

This weekend Alresford host a Bashley side fresh from winning at Stoneham on Tuesday.

In the Bash line-up will be Harry McGrath, who with 26 league and cup goals is the highest scorer in the Wessex Premier this season.

McGrath will be aiming for a double celebration this weekend as he also celebrates his 21st birthday on Saturday.

Coming up ....

None of the top four clubs play each other in the next few weeks.

The final few games could be very interesting, though.

Christchurch host Stoneham on April 11 before ending their campaign with trips to Baffins and a potential last-day (April 25) title decider at Portchester.

Before that, Christchurch host the Royals in a midweek game at the end of March.

Alresford have played Stoneham. Christchurch and Portchester twice already.

Portchester’s character will be tested soon, as this weekend they start a run of four successive away games including next Tuesday’s trip to in-form Bashley.

Goal power

The top three teams have remarkably similar records.

Portchester have the best goal per game ratio - 2.4 - but Alresford (2.3) and AFC Stoneham (2.2) are not far behind.

Christchurch are ‘only’ averaging 2.04 goals per game.

Alresford’s Craig Harding and Scott Hills of Stoneham are currently the top flight’s leading scorers with 18 apiece.

In addition, Alresford have nine-goal Duarte Martins and Hawks loanee Ollie Dennett, who has struck eight times in only six Wessex starts since moving from Westleigh Park on loan.

But Portchester can call on 14-goal Dan Wooden and 13-goal Jason Parish.

They also have two big midfield threats - 11-goal skipper Steve Ramsey and eight-goal Nathan Paxton.

Christchurch’s leading league scorer is Max Willcock, whose recent winner at Lymington was his 11th strike of 2019/20.

The last time a Wessex League champion scored less than a century of goals was in 2006/07.

On that occasion, Alex Pike’s Gosport Borough scored 87 in 38 games.

Since then, there have been some large totals - topped by Poole’s 144-goal haul in 2008/09 (42 games).

Current West Brom striker Charlie Austin scored 34 of those goals, in only 33 appearances.

This season, though, a century could be beyond the champions.

Tightest defence

No contest here, as Christchurch are the only top four team to have conceded less than a goal per game.

Helped by Lewis Gunstone-Gray’s five successive clean sheets, Priory have only shipped an average of 0.78 goals per game (18 goals in 23 matches).

They have only conceded more than two goals in a single league game - a 3-1 loss at Alresford in October.

Alresford have the worst record - conceding 1.4 goals per game, not helped by a 7-1 hammering at Fareham - followed by Portchester (1.32) and Stoneham (1.03).

Portchester boss Mick Catlin is well aware that his side’s defensive shortcomings could cost them the title.

That is why he has recently signed ex-Hawk Jordan Rose from Blackfield, and this week brought in the experienced Pete Castle from Hamble Club.

Even Christchurch will have to go some to equal, or better, Sholing’s defensive record last season.

The Boatmen only conceded 24 goals in 38 games - meaning Priory would only need to let in five more in 15 matches to beat it!

AFC Stoneham

Last 6 league games

January 28 Horndean (H) D 0-0February 1 Hamworthy (H) W 3-1February 4 Amesbury (H) W 9-0February 8 Alresford (H) L 1-3February 15 Tadley (H) W 4-3February 18 Bashley (H) L 0-2

Next 6 league games

February 22 Hamble Club HFebruary 29 Portland United A March 7 Lymington Town AMarch 14 Solent University HMarch 21 Fareham Town AMarch 25 Baffins Milton Rovers A

Alresford Town

Last 6 league games

January 10 Tadley (A) W 4-1January 18 Amesbury (H) W 3-0January 22 Fleet Town (H) W 2-1January 25 Shaftesbury (A) W 3-0February 1 Fareham (H) L 0-1February 8 AFC Stoneham (A) W 3-1

Next 6 league games

February 22 Bashley H February 26 Baffins Milton Rovers A February 29 Cowes Sports AMarch 7 Bournemouth HMarch 14 Lymington HMarch 21 Hamworthy United A

AFC Portchester

Last 6 league games

January 11 AFC Stoneham (H) L 1-2January 25 Lymington Town (H) L 0-2January 28 Tadley (H) W 5-1February 1 Baffins (H) W 3-2February 4 Horndean (A) W 3-0February 8 Hamworthy (H) W 3-2

Next 6 league games

February 22 Fleet Town AFebruary 25 Bashley AFebruary 29 Solent University AMarch 4 Baffins Milton AMarch 7 Amesbury Town HMarch 14 Portland United H

Christchurch

Last 6 league games

January 4 Fleet Town (A) L 0-2January 25 Baffins (H) W 3-0February 1 Portland (A) W 2-0February 4 Shaftesburty (A) W 2-0February 8 Fleet Town (H) W 4-0February 11 Lymington (A) W 1-0

Next 6 league games

February 22 Tadley H

February 29 Horndean AMarch 3 Hamworthy HMarch 7 Solent Uni AMarch 10 Bournemouth AMarch 14 Shaftesbury H