RIDGEONS PREMIER DIVISION PREVIEW SATURDAY 19th NOVEMBER 2011

BRANTHAM ATHLETIC V NORWICH UNITED
It’s doubtful any side will fancy a trip to The Leisure Centre at present with the home side in hot form, 2nd in the table, unbeaten at home and on a nine match unbeaten run with just two points dropped from a possible 27 since late September. All recordS are there to be beaten as the saying goes and 7th placed Norwich United have won two of their last three on the road. Four away wins and two draws from the eight games played will give them confidence going into the game, it will be a difficult ask to take anything back to Plantation Park but their manager has always relished a challenge.

ELY CITY V HADLEIGH UNITED
5th placed Ely City have been the surprise package to many and a look at their record makes impressive reading, 13 games unbeaten in a run that stretches back to the second week of the season, unbeaten at The Unwin ground with seven wins from eight. They host a Hadleigh side that might best be described as inconsistent, dogged by injuries they have found it difficult to get a settled side and have suffered two bad defeats in their last two games, thumped by a resurgent Royals last week and lowly Wivenhoe prior to that. They may find points hard to come by here.

FC CLACTON V GT. YARMOUTH TOWN
The home side are the only ones left in the league yet to draw a game and they will be disappointed if that record ends here but their away record is more impressive than their home with three defeats from the six games played at The Rush Green Bowl. This game sees The Bloaters reach the half-way point of the season and they look in desperate trouble at present with just five points from a possible 57 and in danger of being cut adrift at the bottom. There has been an influx of players recently so perhaps a change of fortunes could be on the horizon but the home side will not want any change starting at The Rush Green Bowl.

HAVERHILL ROVERS V STANWAY ROVERS
This is a tough one for both sides, Haverhill haven’t lived up to their early season promise when they went six games unbeaten and have gradually slipped down the table to 15th place. They were heavily beaten in midweek at home against in form Wisbech but they do have a respectable if not spectacular home record. Stanway have played three of the top four in recent weeks losing two and winning one and the defeat against Wisbech a fortnight ago halted an eleven match unbeaten run including seven straight wins. A betting man might have his money on an away day result here.

KIRKLEY & PAKEFIELD v WOODBRIDGE TOWN
The home side had taken just one point from a possible 15 prior to last week’s big win against Hadleigh when young hotshot Crisp struck four times in a 5-2 win. That win ended a poor run of four defeats in five games and manager Paul Tong will see this as an opportunity to build on that result. The Woodpeckers have identical home and away records but with a more positive goal difference on their travels. They have played three of the top four in recent week and have won one of them so will not fear this trip to Walmer Road. A tough one to call for the pundits.

WALSHAM LE WILLOWS V GORLESTON FC
There is probably one word at the forefront with the home side at present, survival, they would have to have a very good day to take something off the top sides but they have taken points from three of their last five games and are never an easy side to beat on home soil. They face a side enjoying life back in the top flight, unlike neighbours Gt Yarmouth. Relegation does not look a threat to them so they will be looking forward to every game whoever the opposition may be. Healthily in 9th spot they ended a three match losing run in midweek and will look to improve on that here.

WIVENHOE TOWN V NEWMARKET TOWN
These two may be in lowly positions but it is a big, big game for both. They are 17th and 19th respectively with just three points separating them and a five goal difference that an away win could change dramatically. The Dragons have picked up three wins from their last four home games to lift themselves out of the bottom three while the Jockeys have won just once on their travels and it is now seven games since their last win and five straight defeats going into the game that has seen them concede 21 goals. The home side must be favourite but their visitors will feel this is an opportunity to halt the tide.

WROXHAM V CRC
Who will stop them, two defeats in four days back in early October stung the home side but they have responded with four wins and a draw from the five games since. The title is not yet a two horse race but The Yachtsmen have laid down the gauntlet and it’s catch us if you can. They showed their metal last week when they were two down late in the game but scored three times at Emerald Park to snatch the points. Their visitors sit mid table but have won six of their eight games on the road so they will travel to Trafford Park with belief that they are capable of taking points of anyone on their away days.