RIDGEONS PREMIER DIVISION PREVIEW - SATURDAY 10th MARCH 2012

welshwatcher Thu Mar 08, 2012 9:50 pm

CRC V BRANTHAM ATHLETIC
Three wins and a draw from their last six games sees the home side well in contention for a top five finish although they have played the most games of all the sides in the top half of the table. With five of their last eight fixtures at home they should have the advantage. Their problem is that most other sides enjoy playing on the Abbey Stadium surface as well and Brantham will be no exception. They have an excellent record on the road having won ten and drawn two of their 14 away days and will be looking to get back into one of the top two spots following their midweek relegation to third.

DISS TOWN V WIVENHOE TOWN
This is a huge game for both sides, Diss are involved on the fringe of the relegation battle while their visitors are in the thick of it. Diss don’t have a great home record but it is better than The Dragons showing on the road. Three points for either side would be a massive step forward and with The Tangerines having two games in hand maximum points could well ensure safety. Just one defeat in their last six games has given the visitors some confidence so they will travel looking to take something from the game but anything other than a win could see them back in the bottom three.

FC CLACTON V WROXHAM
The Yachtsmen were knocked off top spot in midweek and although they have two games in hand over the new leaders they know they cannot afford to slip up, just one defeat in their last sixteen games speaks for itself but this is the first of three away games before the two sides meet against in just over a fortnight. The Seasiders will be looking forward to this game on the back of a couple of decent results against top six sides and would be happy to put a dent in any of the top sides title ambitions.

FELIXSTOWE & WALTON UNITED V GORLESTON
A home win would put The Seasiders within three points of their visitors although The Greens have two games in hand. There will be a keen edge to the game after the reverse fixture ended as a 4-0 away win and Gorleston will certainly want to put that right, the home side’s record at The Goldstar Ground is not great but it is almost identical to Gorleston record on the road. This could be a tight affair and may be decided on who gets the first goal. Gorleston will be looking for only their second win in ten games and arrive on the back of a mid-week defeat at The New Fenland Park.

HADLEIGH UNITED V ELY CITY
The home side will have their work cut out in this fixture against a Robin’s side who climbed to the top of the table in midweek. This is Hadleigh’s third of four consecutive home games with the first two ending in defeat, so they will be keen to halt that sequence. Ely have lost just three times all season and all of those have been away from The Unwin Ground but they are on a roll, ten matches unbeaten and eight wins in that run with the last four collected without conceding a goal. Probably not the best time for playing them but Hadleigh are capable of beating anyone one their day.

HAVERHILL ROVERS V GREAT YARMOUTH TOWN
The Bloaters statistics just keep mounting up, one win in 32, currently on six straight defeats with just one goal scored and that a consolation in a 7-1 drubbing. On the plus side they have not dropped their heads and keep turning out and giving of their best which can only stand them in good stead in the long term. They know they are consigned to relegation so will be learning from their troubles. There will be no sympathy from their hosts who will see this game as an opportunity to get three more points on the board and a quick fire double having won at The Wellesley two weeks ago.

MILDENHALL TOWN V DEREHAM TOWN
Mildenhall haven’t played for a fortnight and lost at home last time out although it was against title chasing Brantham Athletic. Dereham were also without a game last week and they to lost last time out so this match will be about who can start on the front foot. Both are capable of winning and it could be a close game with home advantage giving The ‘Hall the edge. There is little to choose between their records with the visitors having a four point advantage and a game in hand but defeat would see the home side right on their tails.

STANWAY ROVERS V NORWICH UNITED
The home side are currently on a role with five straight wins including quarter and semi- final success in the League Cup and they now look a very difficult side to beat, they are also scoring goals with 15 in that five match run and Ben Newson on 21 from 27 starts. The two sit next to each other in the table on the same points with Stanway having the better goal difference and a game in hand. The Planters have drawn three and lost one of their last five but have a decent record on the road for a mid-table side and will travel believing they can take something from this fixture.

WALSHAM LE WILLOWS V KIRKLEY & PAKEFIELD
This has to be match of the day, a huge fixture for both sides! A home win puts The Willows within three points of their visitors and possibly out of the relegation zone with two games in hand, an away win puts clear daylight between the two and cancels out those games in hand advantage, if there is one. There is little mileage in a draw for either side although both would accept one rather than lose. Walsham have lost the last three but all were against sides in the upper reaches of the table while The Royals have lost just one of their last three, will this be a thriller or a dour struggle.

WISBECH TOWN V WOODBRIDGE TOWN
The Fenmen are in form and lifted themselves into fourth spot in midweek, they have won four of their last five, drawing the other and last lost at home back in November. A title challenge, while mathematically possible with two games in hand over two of the top three is probably realistically beyond them but who knows if they keep winning where it will take them. The Woodpeckers won’t travel feeling they are cannon fodder, their record on the road is decent although they are on a min-run of three straight defeats and they will want to halt that.