RIDGEONS PREMIER DIVISION PREVIEW SATURDAY 7th APRIL 2012

welshwatcher Thu Apr 05, 2012 8:26 pm

DISS TOWN V BRANTHAM ATHLETIC
The Tangerines will be relatively satisfied with their position in the table, safely away from any relegation threats and competitive with most of the sides in the league. Brantham still have the possibility of winning the title although that is looking more remote as the weeks pass and the current leaders continue to pick up maximum points. They do have a realistic chance of getting in the runners up spot but they can’t afford to drop points here. Diss have won six of their last seven including their last five at home so this is a difficult fixture for the visitors.

ELY CITY V STANWAY ROVERS
Anything other than three points for The Robins could spell the end of their title aspirations if the leaders pick up maximum points so they know what they have to do. Their home record is the best in the league with just one defeat in 17 games but they may not have picked this match by choice. They did win the reverse fixture a fortnight ago but that may work against them as Rovers will be determined to make sure there is no repeat. An away win could put Stanway into fourth place dependent on other results so both sides will have plenty of motivation going into the game.

FC CLACTON V WALSHAM Le WILLOWS
The Seasiders will be looking to halt a disastrous run of five straight defeats that has seen them drop out of the top ten with just two goals scored in those games. The Willows may not be the ideal opposition at present, they lost at leaders Wroxham last week after taking the lead but that was their first defeat in five games. They are still very much in the relegation battle and fighting for survival so this could be a difficult afternoon for the home side who have only played once at Rush Green in those five defeats so they may be pleased to start on home solid.

FELIXSTOWE & WALTON UNITED V HAVERHILL ROVERS
The home side are the only team in the bottom nine with a positive goal difference but the majority have been scored away from The Goldstar Ground and it is their home record that has seen them struggle at the wrong end of the table for most of the season. The visitors have also struggled in recent week and will be looking to halt a run of three straight defeats that include a home loss to struggling Wivenhoe. Both have six games to play and a home win would see the sides within four points of each other while an away victory would lift Rovers into the 50 point band.

HADLEIGH UNITED V DEREHAM TOWN
It would be a brave man to predict any Hadleigh result, they have won their last two but lost their previous four, all at home although they were against four of the top six sides. Dereham had a similar run, losing three straight but have recovered with two straight wins although they did drop two points against Walsham a fortnight ago. Both sides have lacked consistency all season, putting together min-runs then suffering set- backs. Hadleigh have picked up 24 points on home soil, The Magpies 22 points away so this could be tight and go either way.

NEWMARKET TOWN V GORLESTON
Consigned to First Division football next season The Jockeys have little to play for other than pride but on the back of eleven straight defeats one wonders is there any of that left. The biggest danger the opponents have is complacency and underestimating the Jockeys, the chances are they will pick up at least one more point from their remaining three games and the Greens will want to make sure it is not against them. Gorleston have been inconsistent and unpredictable all season but they will be satisfied with a mid-table spot in their first season back in the top flight.

NORWICH UNITED V MILDENHALL TOWN
A betting man would probably steer away from predicting the outcome of this match, although a draw might be favourite. They sit next to each other in the table having played the same amount and won the same amount of games. Norwich have the edge with two more draws than their visitors, the ‘Hall have the edge in goal difference and goals scored. The last months form guide favours the away side and their away record is marginally better than The Planters record at home. They have scored 116 goals between them what is the best call, 0-0?

WISBECH TOWN V GREAT YARMOUTH TOWN
The Fenmen start the day in fourth and unless they have a disaster will end it the same place. This should be a stonewall home win but they struggled last week against The Suffolk Seasiders and won the reverse fixture by a single goal. Relegated Great Yarmouth have picked up just one point on the road all season and are currently on a ten match losing run so will do well to gain anything here and an early home goal could see the floodgates opened. Like Newmarket, the Jockeys have only pride to play for but that may not be enough here.

WIVENHOE TOWN V KIRKLEY AND PAKEFIELD
The relegation battle could be decided here if The Dragons do not collect maximum points from the game. Both are still in the mix but The Royals are edging to safety all the time and even a point here would leave the home side a pretty impossible task when looking at their remaining three fixtures. Paul Tong has reshaped the visitor’s side since taking over and they now look competitive against any team they face. Wivenhoe did win their last match beating Haverhill at The New Croft while Kirkley have won their last two and are playing their eighth away game in nine matches.

WROXHAM V WOODBRIDGE TOWN
This has to be match of the day and an intriguing encounter. The Yachtsmen regained top spot last weekend with a 2-1 win over lowly Walsham while their visitors were putting the then leaders Ely to the sword with a 6-0 drubbing to relegate them to second place. The title is firmly in Wroxham’s hands to win or lose but they have a really difficult run in and this game is one of them. The Woodpeckers have won their last three scoring a dozen times while conceding just one so they will be eager for this encounter but there are many wise and experienced heads at Trafford Park.[justify]