RIDGEONS PREMIER DIVISION PREVIEW SATURDAY 12th NOVEMBER 2011

welshwatcher Thu Nov 10, 2011 10:06 pm

BRANTHAM ATHLETIC V ELY CITY
Two of the top three ‘in form’ sides clash here, third and fourth in the table respectively, 1st and 3rd in the form table, Brantham on a seven match winning run, Ely unbeaten in 12. Something has to give, are we looking at a 0-0 draw here, probably not, but it would be a brave man to place a bet on this result. Brantham have an unblemished home record having won five from five with just two goals conceded while The Robins have had seven away days, losing twice, but the last of those was back in Mid-August.

FELIXSTOWE & WALTON UNITED V MILDENHALL TOWN
The Seasiders finally collected their first home Saturday league win of the season last week to extend their unbeaten run to five games in all competitions and they have taken seven points from a possible nine in the league to ease them away from the relegation zone. But, they meet a side that have been their nemesis in the past couple of years; they lost both league fixtures last season. It has not been all plain sailing for the ‘Hall in recent weeks and they will be looking to halt a four match losing league run here that has seen them conced 15 goals.

GORLESTON FC V WROXHAM
The Greens were going well but have had a hiccup in the past couple of weeks losing their last two in the league, one of those at Emerald Park. They have had hot striker Christie Finch banging in goals – seven in five before missing last Tuesday’s defeat at Ely through injury. Does anyone fancy playing Wroxham in their current form, Tuesday’s demolition of bottom club Yarmouth put them on top of the league. If anyone does it will be their hosts who were the last side to lower their colours just a month ago at Trafford Park with a 2-1 win, revenge for Wroxham or top dog tag for Gorleston, this could be a cracker!

GT. YARMOUTH TOWN V WALSHAM Le WILLOWS
The bottom two sides meet at The Wellesley with the Bloaters struggling to halt a run that has yielded just one point from their last ten league games and entrenched them at the bottom, five points adrift of their visitors having played four games more. It could be a long cold winter if they do not collect something here. The Willows have been playing decent football but have lacked firepower in front of goal, they too lost in mid-week but it was by the odd goal in three rather than the seven their hosts conceded and they will fancy getting something from this encounter.

KIRKLEY & PAKEFIELD V HADLEIGH UNITED
The home side sit uncomfortably at the wrong end of table and it has now been five games since their last league win with four defeats in that run and two months since their last victory at Walmer Road. Their visitors are unpredictable at best, after three straight wins two of them on the road they lost to lowly Wivenhoe last time out at Broad Lane. They have struggled with injuries all season and have made some significant signings in recent weeks to try and bolster the squad. This is another difficult game to call with both sides looking to really kick-start their season.

NEWMARKET V FC CLACTON
The jockey’s picked up a couple of decent wins in early October to end a five match losing run but have struggled in the half dozen games since picking up just one point from a possible eighteen. They have won just one of their nine games at The Town Ground, conceding 27 goals and drawn one other. Their visitors have a better away record than home with five wins from their seven away days. They have won their last four on the road and have scored 19 times on their travels so will be looking forward to this encounter more than their hosts.

NORWICH UNITED V HAVERHILL ROVERS
The home side sit in a comfortable 5th place in the table and might well have been significantly higher but for their home form which has seen them lose five of their eleven games at Plantation Park. Form wise they are in good shape with six victories in the nine games played since the beginning of October. Their visitors, after a bright start in the first two months lost their way losing five on the bounce. They have however got back on track in their last couple of games with two wins, hitting six goals against Newmarket in mid-week to follow up a 2-0 win last weekend.

STANWAY ROVERS V DEREHAM TOWN
The Fenmen ended an 11match unbeaten run by The Rovers last week but they have become a very difficult side to compete against, they sit in 7th place in the table but another extended unbeaten run would almost certainly see them in a much higher spot. They entertain a side who will be smarting from an emphatic home defeat last week that saw them toppled from top spot. It was The Magpies 6th league defeat of the season and it may now be beyond them to challenge the new league leaders and defeat here would see their host’s just four points behind them with 4 games in hand.

WIVENHOE TOWN V DISS TOWN
Written off as eternal strugglers by many the home side have cocked a snoop at their detractors by lifting themselves out of the relegation zone picking up three wins from three at Broad Lane. They did get heavily beaten away at CRC between the victories but they will see winning their home games as the key to survival this season and they will be looking to make it four in a row here. Their visitors made a decent start to their return to the Premier Division but have struggled in recent games with just one win from their last nine games. This is their 4th straight away day with two draws from those games.

WOODBRIDGE TOWN V WISBECH TOWN
The home side are currently 4th in the form table but their visitors are second so this looks a tight affair. The Woodpeckers suffered their first defeat in seven in midweek but that was against form leaders Brantham and away from Notcutts Park. Their visitors are currently on a six match unbeaten run which takes in five straight wins, two of those plus a draw, away from Fenland Park. Wisbech have lost just once on their travel but they have conceded 15 goals in seven away days while the home side have scored the same amount at home, but have lost two of their seven.