RIDGEONS PREMIER DIVISION PREVIEW SATURDAY 21st JANUARY 2012

welshwatcher Thu Jan 19, 2012 9:36 pm

BRANTHAM ATHLETIC V DISS TOWN
Having lost twice over the festive period the home side have won twice since, collecting a hard earned victory at The Seaside then smashing eight past lowly Newmarket, so they will be in confident mood for this encounter. The Tangerines have recorded just one win in their last six games and have lost their last two so will be in need of a boost but they may find the going tough here. It’s the first meeting between the sides this season.

CRC V GREAT YARMOUTH TOWN
The Bloaters may need to take some armour plating with them if the home side get their game together on the slick Abbey Stadium surface. Just two points from their last 10 games and 43 goals conceded speaks for itself and they have now conceded 100 league goals in the 27 fixtures played. The reverse fixture ended in an almost narrow defeat with just two conceded but sixth placed CRC have lost just once in their last eight and have a decent record at home this season.

ELY CITY V DEREHAM TOWN
Dependent on Brantham’s result The Robins could find themselves in second place on Saturday evening with at least one game in hand over the five sides currently around them in the table. The visitors will be disappointed with their season so far, although they still sit in a very respectable fourth place in the table, they have been inconsistent as three win and three defeats in their last six games demonstrates while their hosts are currently on a five match winning run.

GORLESTON V WOODBRIDGE TOWN
The visitors sit two places and five points above their hosts but the Greens have four games in hand so this is a crucial encounter for both sides. A home win closes the gap to one plus those games in hand, an away win gives the Woodpeckers breathing space. It is five games since the home side’s last win although they have yet to play a league game in 2012 while the Woodpeckers have lost just once in their last five but that was last week at Notcutts Park against CRC

HADLEIGH UNITED V KIRKLEY & PAKEFIELD
The home side have been inconsistent this season but are capable of beating any side on their day while their visitors are beginning to get up a head of steam, The Royals have lost just one of their last seven league fixtures and that at Walmer Road against the side currently in third place but their record on the road is not that great. The home sides record at The Millfield is won six, lost six so no indication there other than the inconsistency. A hard one to call but the home side will be favourites to take the points.

MILDENHALL TOWN V HAVERHILL ROVERS
If I were to pick a ‘Match of the Day’ this would probably be my choice. The home side show just one defeat from their last six games and it was early November when they last had their colours lowered at The Rec’way. Rovers are always competitive and a difficult side to beat, they lost last week at home to the League leaders but had picked up two excellent wins prior to that defeat. The odds just favour the home side whose home record is superior to their visitor’s away showing.

NEWMARKET TOWN V WALSHAM Le WILLOWS
The reverse fixture ended all square back in October but both side’s fortunes have changed since then with both seemingly going in different directions. Walsham played the top three in consecutive games and won two of them, they drew last time out and have pulled away from the relegation zone. The Jockey’s would like to make the same boast but just one win in 16, that against the basement side and three defeats in a row with 15 goals conceded speaks for itself. In the home sides favour is the Willows away record with eight of their 12 away days ending in defeat.

STANWAY ROVERS V WIVENHOE TOWN
A local derby out of season with The Dragons travelling across town for a difficult encounter. The home side have shown some inconsistency in recent week with alternate wins and losses in their last six games and they won last time out! The visitors made an awful start to the season with just one win in their opening 15 games but are on a current run showing just two defeats in their last seven outings including a 3-0 win over the current second placed side. Stanway won on the road last time out at the basement club but might find this a more competitive encounter.

WROXHAM V FELIXSTOWE & WALTON UNITED
The reverse fixture at The Goldstar Ground on the opening day of the season produced the Yachtsmen’s first victory of their 19 to date and The Seasiders first of their dozen defeats. The visitors have shored up a leaky defence in recent games with just five conceded in six outings but they have lacked firepower at the other end which has cost them dearly at times. The home side have the best defensive record in the league and the second best attack, by one goal and have only conceded nine times 13 home games. A difficult afternoon ahead for the Seasiders!