In the blink of an eye, another football season is nearing its end.

It seems like only yesterday East Thurrock United and Bowers & Pitsea were embarking on their first seasons at a new higher level in the National League South and Ryman North respectively.

But both have flourished, with Rocks set to be south Essex’s highest placed non-league team come May and Bowers chasing the most unlikely of play-off finishes.

The fact that East Thurrock have faced much of this season without Sam Higgins and thrived has belied any notion of John Coventry’s side being a one-man team.

I don’t mind admitting I was sceptical about how well they would cope without their talisman for the first three months of the season.

But the team rallied and are safely ensconced in mid-table with nine games remaining. Indeed only five of Rocks’ 59 league goals have come from the boot of Higgins.

Billericay Town are still in with a shout of a Ryman Premier League play-off place and will hope their habit of performing better against the bigger sides continues with Dulwich Hamlet (twice), Leiston, Enfield Town and Needham Market still to come.

Blossoming crowds and some thumping victories have instilled a real sense of belief that Town will still secure the top five spot - backed by Glenn Tamplin’s financial clout and desire to prove himself as a viable successor to Craig Edwards.

Although they rely on others above them to drop points, I fancy Town to hit the top five.

Concord Rangers, Canvey Island and Great Wakering are involved in battles at the other end of the National League South, Ryman Premier League and Ryman North.

Nine points above the drop zone, Concord are best placed to stay up. Four wins in a row has greatly boosted Canvey’s survival hopes, although they aren’t out of the woods yet, while Wakering look resigned to an Essex Senior League return.

One thing is certain, it promises to be a cracking last seven weeks of the season.