RIDGEONS PREMIER DIVISION PREVIEW - SATURDAY 17th MARCH 2012

welshwatcher Thu Mar 15, 2012 10:16 pm

DEREHAM TOWN V BRANTHAM ATHLETIC
The home side have now gone two weeks without a game and three weeks since their last league fixture with no joy from either of the games, losing a League Cup Semi-Final and their last league fixture so they will be eager to get back on the pitch. They could have picked an easier game with their visitors still hanging on to the leading two, feeling they are still very much in the title challenge although defeat here could make it a very difficult task. Athletic have a good record on the road as do The Magpies at home and the sides drew 2-2 at The Leisure centre just a month ago.

DISS TOWN V CRC
A check of the form table for February & March shows Diss leading the way with maximum points from the four games played with their visitors not far behind. The Tangerines five match unbeaten run has taken them onto the magic 40 points mark which means they can now look up rather than down. 4th placed CRC have played more games than anyone and with just six left will do well to retain that fourth spot. CRC’s record on the road is better than The Tangerines at home but Diss will be looking to extend their current record and possibly climb a couple of places by Saturday night.

GORLESTON V WALSHAM Le WILLOWS
Gorleston are an enigma at present, thrashed 6-0 last Saturday by a side four places below them in the table then getting an excellent victory in midweek against the side seven places above them. That win was only their second in 11 outings so they will be hoping to improve on that here against relegation battlers Walsham. The Willows are currently outside the relegation zone and have two games in hand over Wivenhoe but just one point separates the two so this is a big match for Paul Smith’s charges, they did win last time out and another three points would ease their worries.

GREAT YARMOUTH TOWN V ELY CITY
Bottom versus top, already relegated The Bloaters no longer have that worry hanging over them before taking the field and it could produce some surprise results before the season ends. It is hard to see it happening here, The Robins will be smarting from their midweek defeat, their first on home soil this season but they retain top spot. They need to collect maximum points to ensure they stay there and having played two more games than Wroxham can only take one game at a time and set out to win it.

HADLEIGH UNITED V WROXHAM
Another huge game as The Yachtsmen hit to the road for the third time in eight days for another tricky fixture. The midweek win over Ely put their destiny firmly back in their own hands and they have the experience at this end of the season to produce the results but it also offers their opponents the challenge to have a say in the final positions. That will certainly be the case for the hosts who have had an injury wrought season to date and they have lost their last three all on home soil although all three were against sides more interested in the top rather than bottom of the table.

NEWMARKET TOWN V KIRKLEY & PAKEFIELD
The Jockeys could theoretically escape the drop but it will be a difficult ask and they would have to win their last six games and hope those above them fail completely. An away win here could just about seal their fate. Their visitors are by no means safe, hovering four points above the relegation zone but three points here would go a long way towards safety. It is now a dozen games since the home side’s last victory and they are currently on an eight match losing run. The Royals have lost two of their last three so won’t be bubbling with confidence. This could be a nervy one.

NORWICH UNITED V FELIXSTOWE & WALTON UNITED
The hosts start the day in 6th place but could possibly drop three slots if they lose. The two have met twice already this season with just one goal scored in the two encounters and that by their visitors in The FA Cup. A midweek defeat at Emerald Park halted a mini- run of two straight wins and a draw for the Planters so they will be looking to get back on track and preserve their sixth spot. The visitors know what they have to do, two wins from their remaining ten games would make it very difficult for all three sides below them in the relegation battle to overtake them

STANWAY ROVERS V WISBECH TOWN
This would be my match of the day, the home side have had a decent run of form and picked up a good mid-week draw at The Abbey Stadium, a win here would put them within four points of their visitors. The Fenmen could still theoretically win the league although it would be a very difficult ask and they would need those above them to drop several points. They have lost just one of their last seven albeit that was at home in midweek and they have to play all four sides currently above them in the table so wherever they finish they will have a say in where the title ends up.

WIVENHOE TOWN V HAVERHILL ROVERS
For The Dragons every game is a cup final, this is the first of two meetings in a fortnight between the sides with Wisbech at Broad Lane between the games. With seven games left it looks as though the home side may need to win at least three games of a very difficult run in to give themselves a chance. Their visitors are currently third in the form table, they have an average record away from home but they have won three of their last four fixtures so will be confident going into this game. It could go either way but current form suggests Rovers will come out on top.

WOODBRIDGE TOWN V FC CLACTON
Two sides with little to play for other than pride and as high a finishing position as possible. Although currently in mid-table with an excellent positive goal difference, the Woodpeckers have lost three of their last four and have won just once at home since the turn of the year. Their visitors have won two and drawn two of their last four so are in good form going into the game. FC Clacton’s form on the road also surpasses The Woodpeckers form at Notcutts Park but I fancy this is going to be a tight affair and a very entertaining encounter.