Saturday's Blue Square South preview

League leaders Chelmsford City face a trip to promotion hopefuls Welling, while Eastleigh travel to fellow high-flyers Hayes & Yeading.

Basingstoke v Bishop's Stortford

Basingstoke Town will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to three games when fellow strugglers Bishop's Stortford make the trip to The Camrose on Saturday afternoon.

The Dragons cruised to a 3-0 victory over Weston-super-Mare last weekend and manager Frank Gray will certainly be keen to see more of the same from his squad.

Basingstoke are currently sitting second from bottom with a disappointing total of 12 points from 17 fixtures.

Meanwhile, Bishop's Stortford will also be in good spirits after recording their first league win in nine matches last weekend.

Substitute Jason Mason netted the winning goal to help his side claim all three points against Newport County.

The Blues are hovering just above the dreaded drop zone with 15 points from 17 games.

Bognor Regis Town v Hampton & Richmond

Bognor Regis Town have picked up two straight away wins and will be looking to extend their good run of form when Hampton & Richmond visit Nyewood Lane.

Manager Mick Jenkins told the Bognor Regis Observer: "What we can't do is get carried away by the past couple of results, good though they've been.

"We're in a relegation battle and mustn't forget that.

"Realistically, we're not suddenly going to start winning every game.

"I said before the Fisher game that if we could win that and get draws from playing Hampton, Dorchester and Worcester, I would be happy.

"I stand by that, though that doesn't mean we will be playing for a draw against Hampton.

"They're consistently near the top of the table but this is a home game and we want to give our fans a win at Nyewood Lane.

"We need to start solidly, concentrate on keeping a clean sheet and see how we go from there."

Hampton & Richmond Borough manager Alan Devonshire has an injury crisis on his hands ahead of Saturday's clash.

The Beavers boss already had a number of players on the treatment table last week but has now seen full-back Craig Tanner added to an ever-growing list.

Tanner was stretchered off in the 1-1 draw at AFC Wimbledon on Saturday and Devonshire expects to be without the defender for the rest of the season.

He told This Is Local London: "After Craig went off the game didn't matter to me. I'm gutted for the kid. He has been my best player this season and to have that happen to him is sickening," he said.

"He is probably out for the season after that. It is a very serious break and he has been in hospital ever since.

"I wouldn't like to think how long it is going to take him to come back, but it is long-term.

"This injury crisis goes from bad to worse. I won't know who I have got for the weekend until Thursday, but that is all irrelevant now."

Braintree Town v Bath City

Braintree Town Bradley Quinton will be keen to build on an impressive start as caretaker manager when Bath City are the visitors to Cressing Road.

Quinton has picked up four points from the last two league games and that has seen Braintree move up to 13th position in the Blue Square South standings.

The player/caretaker manager told the Braintree & Witham Times: "I'm really pleased with the response that the boys have given me.

"I've played with the likes of Mark Jones and Louis Riddle for a long time now and they know what it's all about.

"I've demanded a high tempo and work ethic and they have given me that."

Bath City expect Martin Slocombe back in contention for Saturday's clash after missing Saturday's win at Maidenhead.

However, Lewis Hogg is still struggling with an ankle ligament injury and could well miss out again.

Ali Gibb will definitely miss out as he continues his recover from an ankle ligament injury.

Manager Adie Britton told The Bath Chronicle: "Their manager went last week and then they had a couple of good results, winning at St Albans and then drawing 1-1 at Havant & Waterlooville, where they conceded a late equaliser, so after losing their manager, they've made some improvements.

"We know that in Danny Hockton and Gareth Williams they have got good quality front players and last season they took four points from us. They are a dangerous side."

Fisher Athletic v Bromley

Fisher Athletic take on fellow South Londoner's Bromley at Champion Hill in desperate need of morale-boosting win.

Manager Dave Mehmet will be hoping new striker Ryan Adams shakes off an ankle injury in time to play.

Aarron Cole-Bolt made his debut for the Fish in their 3-0 victory over the Kent Premier League outfit Lewisham Borough in the London Senior Cup in midweek and will be pushing for his full debut on Saturday.

Fisher currently find themselves sitting in 20th position with 14 points from 18 games.

Bromley manager Mark Goldberg is anticipating a tricky match when they travel to Champion Hill.

"I'm expecting this to be the toughest game so far this season," Goldberg told the club's official website.

"Fisher are really fighting for their lives and you have to be careful when you face sides in that position."

Captain Rob Gillman added: "The target for Saturday at Fisher Athletic is as always, a win, nothing else but a win will do.

"We've got to be beating teams that are down there in the bottom places of the table.

"We seem to play better against the top of the table teams but we haven't done as well against the lower half of the table, so we have to go there Saturday and pick up a win."

Havant and W v Dorchester

Havant and Waterlooville will be looking to earn themselves some breathing room in the bottom half of the table when Dorchester Town visit West Leigh Park.

The Hawks are currently sitting in 16th place with 17 points from 17 matches.

Goalkeeper Kevin Scriven was stretchered off in Monday night's 1-1 draw with Braintree Town and faces a late fitness test.

Dorchester Town also find themselves at the wrong end of the table and lie a point clear of the relegation zone.

Joint top scorer Ryan Moss will have to watch from the sidelines as he serves a suspension.

Wes Fogden is rated highly doubtful as he continues his recovery from a punctured lung but skipper Roy O'Brien is more likely to feature in Saturday's encounter.

Dorchester boss Shaun Brooks told the Dorset Echo: "Obviously Ryan will be a miss for us tomorrow but we'll see what we've got in terms of options within the team, go there and give it a right go.

"Havant's league form isn't the best but it'll be tough going there. Against the top teams we've competed and done okay so there's no reason we can't go there and do the same.

"It'll be a physical game with lots of long balls to defend, which we've coped well with of late, so we'll go there and try to nullify them a bit while trying to get the ball down and cause problems ourselves."

Hayes & Yeading v Eastleigh

Hayes & Yeading will be looking to cut the gap on the league leaders when fellow high-flyers Eastleigh make the trip to Church Road.

United have parted ways with experienced defender Nevin Saroya this week but have not managed to bring in a replacement before the close of the loan transfer window.

Eastleigh are missing the services of defender Warren Goodhind, who is expected to be on the treatment table for the next fortnight with a groin injury.

Manager Ian Baird steered the Spitfires to a hard-fought victory over AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday night and will be hoping for a repeat performance from his players this weekend.

Maidenhead Utd v Weston-S-Mare

Maidenhead United players will be playing for their futures at the club when managerless Weston-super-Mare visit York Road.

Manager Johnson Hippolyte has warned his squad that they have to start performing if they wish to stay at the club.

"To say I'm disappointed, is an understatement," Hippolyte told the Maidenhead Advertiser.

"And the players have been told in no uncertain terms that they have two games to save their Maidenhead careers.

"The performances in the last three games have just not been good enough and if they don't improve, players will be on their way. I can promise you that.

"Those with contracts will be put on the transfer list and those without will just be shown the door."

Weston-Super-Mare parted ways with manager Tony Ricketts this week and former assistant Andrew Gurney has been named as caretaker manager in the interim.

The former Reading and Swansea City midfielder told the club's official website: "I'm in the seat at the moment and it is my job to try and keep.

"Hopefully if we can string a few results together between now and the end of January it will be my job."

St Albans v Worcester

St Albans City have collected just one point from their last two league encounters and will be keen to set things straight when Worcester City visit Clarence Park.

The Saints have signed defender John Munday after he impressed with some solid performances for the reserves and in the Herts Senior Cup.

Munday will be hoping for a starting place this weekend, along with Simon Martin, who is close to regaining full fitness following an injury.

Worcester City have recorded a number of disappointing results over the past month which has seen them slip down to 12 place in the Blue Square South standings.

Manager Richard Dryden is calling on his team to put the disappointment of the past month behind them and start December with a clean slate.

"The players have been trying to be as professional as they can and keep the situation at arm's length but we are making no excuses for the past month's performances. It's up to us to get back on track.

"We were good in October and it was like we hit a brick wall in November.

"It's the start of a new month and we need to kick on and move up the table."

Matt Dinsmore and Craig Wilding are doubtful with respective groin injuries and could miss out along with hip-injury victim Rob Davies.

Team Bath v AFC Wimbledon

Team Bath and AFC Wimbledon are hovering just below the promotion zone and will both be intent on picking up all three points on Saturday.

TeamBath head coach Andy Tillson has called on his squad to build on last week's impressive away performance against Hayes & Yeading United.

He told The Bath Chronicle: "We've admired them (AFC Wimbledon) for what they've done and watched their progress very closely.

"They're doing things the right way and have great supporters who've made their stand against what happened there.

"I'm sure both sides are desperate for a result and it will be a really good, interesting game because of that.

"On the day, I guess it's going to be all about who deals with the pressure best."

AFC Wimbledon will be looking to bounce back to winning ways after suffering their first home defeat of the season at the hands of Eastleigh.

Manager Terry Brown is expecting a positive response from his players and told Your Local Guardian: "That is a massive game for us now, but I expect it to be a completely different game from Tuesday.

"We will work on things in training and look at lifting the atmosphere.

"But it wouldn't surprise me if we go there, win, and get things back on track."

Terry handed a debut to new signing Dwane Lee in Tuesday's defeat and could keep faith with the midfielder for Saturday's clash.

Thurrock v Newport County

Thurrock will be looking to open a bigger gap on the relegation zone when Newport County visit Ship Lane on Saturday afternoon.

The Fleet have enjoyed an upturn in their recent form, recording two consecutive wins and a draw in their last three league matches.

Striker Leon McKenzie deserves a fair share of the praise, having netted six goals in six games for Thurrock.

His excellent form over the past month led to him picking up the Blue Square South "Player of the Month" award for November.

Newport County boss Dean Holdsworth will have to make do without the services of skipper Ashley Vickers, who is suspended.

New loan signing Aaron Cook is expected to deputise in the absence of Vickers.

Nathan Davies and Kris Leek are still sidelined by injury but Adie Harris is available for selection after returning to training this week.

Welling v Chelmsford

Welling United can expect a stern test this weekend when league leaders Chelmsford City make the trip to Park View Road.

Manager Andy Ford has hinted that he could change his formation for Saturday's clash after recording two consecutive draws using a 4-3-3 system.

Club skipper Rob Quinn will be pushing for a recall to the starting line-up after being dropped to the bench at Dorchester Town last weekend.

Promising midfielder Dorian Smith will miss out once again.

Chelmsford will have to make do without the services of Ollie Berquez, who is suspended for the trip to eighth-placed United.

James Lawson is back on the treatment table after suffering a recurrence of an existing foot injury on Tuesday night.

Chris Duffy is struggling to shrug off an ankle injury and will face a late fitness test.

Dorchester head coach Glenn Pennyfather is hoping his side can maintain their superb form and said: "We will expect the same from Welling as we do for most other teams in this division.

"They will give their all and we will need to battle to make our quality count. We have a formidable away record to be proud of and we want to maintain that.

"We wouldn't have expected to be this far in front if you'd have asked us at the start of the season, we'd have bitten your hand off!

"We've even had some disappointments and setbacks along the way and it should be noted we could still do better, but we're trying to put things right and have been the most consistent team so far."