Saturday's Blue Square South Preview

League leaders Chelmsford City will be looking to return to winning ways this weekend while second-placed AFC Wimbledon will be looking to further cut the gap on the Clarets.

Basingstoke v Bognor Regis Town

Rock-bottom Bognor Regis Town travel to the Camrose on Saturday to face fellow strugglers Basingstoke Town in search of a morale-boosting victory.

Basingstoke were edged out by Eastleigh in their last Blue Square South fixture and will be intent on recording a winning result in front of their supporters.

The Dragons currently find themselves sitting in 20th position with a disappointing total of 17 points from 21 fixtures.

Bognor Regis travel to Basingstoke with caretaker boss Darin Killpartrick at the helm.

Killpartrick has managed to bring in three new players after the club was hit by a seven-point deduction for fielding an ineligible player.

Young midfielder Kane Wills has returned on loan from Brighton, while Killpartrick has secured the services of versatile 19-year-old defender James Crane.

The Caretaker manager is also on the verge of bringing in an unnamed attacking midfielder from Championship side Reading.

Killpartrick told the Bognor Regis Observer: "We are building a team for next season, a team who can pass and move, be confident and calm on the ball and play football as it should be played.

"But that doesn't mean we are necessarily planning for a lower league.

"We know how hard it will be to stay up but nothing's impossible.

"The seven-point deduction is a blow, of course it is, but it's two wins and a draw - and it's better to know about it now rather than have it handed out at the end of the season when you've no games to make up the points.

"We have to get on with it and after the Newport game was frozen off last week, we're looking forward to going to Basingstoke and seeing how we get on. The players feel the same. We are bottom but don't want to be."

Braintree Town v Eastleigh

Braintree Town will be looking to continue their good run of form under caretaker manager Brad Quinton when high-flying Eastleigh visit Cressing Road Stadium.

Braintree have lost only once in their last six matches and now find themselves in a respectable mid-table berth with 30 points from 22 games.

Quinton, a long-serving Iron midfielder, is hoping to shake off a chest infection in time for Saturday's clash.

Quinton told the Braintree and Witham Times: "I've spoken to the board about how things are going and we're pleased.

"The boys are playing some good football and players are looking dangerous - goals are coming from all areas of the field.

"They're buzzing at the moment and we're on a roll, because everyone is working hard."

Third-placed Eastleigh have picked up 13 points from their last six games and will be keen to build on their good run of form.

The Spitfires will have to make do without the services of striker Andy Forbes, who has suffered a ruptured Achilles injury.

Diminutive forward Lee Roache has been recalled by Cambridge City after his one month loan stay expired.

However, Brighton & Hove Albion striker Jonny Dixon has been drafted in on a loan deal and the 25-year-old is expected to make his debut on Saturday afternoon.

Dorchester v Worcester

Dorchester Town have enforced a 30 per cent pay cut recently and manager Shaun Brooks will be a relieved man after none of his squad handed in transfer requests this week.

Brooks has a fully-fit squad at his disposal with no suspensions to contend with.

The Magpies will surely be in good spirits after holding high-flying AFC Wimbledon to a 1-1 draw in midweek and now find themselves sitting in 14th place with 26 points from 23 games.

13th place City return to action this weekend after a break from Blue Square South football since Boxing Day.

City's squad have also had a pay cut recently and should be at full strength after their three-week break.

Fisher Athletic v Newport County

Fisher Athletic will be itching to get back to action as the prepare for the visit of Newport County to Champion Hill Stadium on Saturday.

The Fish find themselves embroiled in a relegation scrap and are in desperate need of three points.

They sit in 21st place with an abysmal total 14 points from 22 games and currently have to league's worst goal difference, which is -32.

Newport County have strengthened their squad this week with the signing of Bath City central midfielder Scott Rogers.

However, manager Dean Holdsworth has not been able to replace departed attacking duo Rob Duffy and Craig Hughes.

Holdsworth told the South Wales Argus: "It's been a mixed week, we're delighted to have got Scott Rogers in, he's a quality player and one I've been tracking for some time, he also gives us something a bit different in the middle of the park.

"We would like to keep him, but it's entirely down to Scott. He needs to show a willingness to stay and of course he also needs to impress on the field.

"But with Danny (Rose) suspended for tomorrow and Nathan Davies injured (Adie Harris also leaving the club), he comes in at the perfect time for us.

"The striker situation has been less gratifying, we can't really do anymore than we are now.

"I have a specific player in mind, I've been talking about him with his manager for two weeks and we are edging closer.

"But I won't just bring players in for the sake of it, they have to be good enough to help us this season and hopefully next season as well."

Havant and Waterlooville v Chelmsford

Havant and Waterlooville welcome Chelmsford City to West Leigh Park on Saturday after two week break from Blue Square South football.

The Hawks played to a thrilling 3-3 draw against Lewes in the 2nd Round of the FA Trophy in midweek thanks to a late comeback at the Dripping Pan.

Shaun Gale's men will be looking to record a double over the Clarets after a 2-1 victory at the Melbourne on 13th September.

Chelmsford City boss Jeff King has a selection headache on his hands after a bout of sickness swept through his squad this week.

King will definitely miss the services of central midfielder Jeff Minton and wide-man Jon Keeling, who are both suspended for the weekend's clash.

The league leaders currently hold a five-point lead at the top of the pile and another victory on Saturday could plausibly see them extend their lead to eight points.

Hayes & Yeading v Bath City

Hayes & Yeading will be looking to cut the gap on the promotion places when fellow promotion hopefuls Bath City visit Church Road on Saturday.

Garry Haylock's side currently sit in eighth place with a total of 36 points from 22 fixtures.

Bath City boss Adie Britton is wary of another potential slip-up when his side travel to Hayes & Yeading.

He told The Bath Chronicle: "They gave us our biggest beating last season, not just in the number of goals but in that they totally outplayed us," Britton admitted.

"The first half of this season's home game against them was a traumatic experience as well.

"But their results have not been good recently and it is a game we should be looking to win.

"We are in very good form and it is just a shame that we have gone a couple of weeks without a game because of the weather. We had got into a habit of winning but now we have got to start again and get that momentum going."

Sekani Simpson has returned to contention for Bath City after missed their last three games with a knee injury.

Scott Rogers has joined Newport County on a one-month loan deal as he seeks to build up his fitness.

Maidenhead Utd v AFC Wimbledon

Maidenhead United will be hoping to break into the play-off places on Saturday when second-placed AFC Wimbledon make the trip to York Road.

Manager Johnson Hippolyte is boosted by the return of suspended duo Nevin Saroya and Ben Surey.

However, Dale Binns serves a one-match ban after collecting five yellow cards.

The Wombles are in fine fettle having gone unbeaten in their last six matches and another victory on Saturday would see them keep the pressure on league leaders Chelmsford.

Dons boss Terry Brown told the club's website: "Saturday's game against Maidenhead offers us another opportunity to get closer to Chelmsford.

"Maidenhead started the season very well and, being local to myself, I know all of their players well. Drax's teams are always entertaining and competitive.

"Having talked to Dwane Lee, who knows many of their players from his time there last season, I'm in no doubt that they will be up for Saturday's game."

St Albans v Bromley

St Albans will be keen to get their play-off chasing campaign back on track when mid-table Bromley make the trip to Clarence Park on Saturday.

The Saints have failed to find the back of the net in their last five Blue Square South games and manager Steve Castle has revealed that he is looking to strengthen his attacking options before the weekend.

Castle told the St Albans & Harpenden Review: "With Lee Clarke dropping into midfield and Gary Cohen suspended we are short in attack at the moment. But it has to be the right lad and not just for the sake of it.

"It is a hard one for 17 and 18-year-olds to come in and show they better than the others. They have to come in and make a difference and not just be coming in to bolster the numbers.

"The facts are we have struggled to put the ball in the net. It would be great to get a proven goalscorer in. But they cost a fortune and not many exist at this level."

Bromley will have to make do without the services of top-scorer Nic McDonnell, who left the club earlier this week.

The striker announced he no longer wanted to play football after becoming increasingly frustrated by the number of yellow cards he was picking up and his shortage of goals.

Team Bath v Hampton & Richmond

TeamBath manager Andy Tillson says his team are champing at the bit ahead of the visit of Hampton & Richmond Borough to Twerton Park on Saturday.

The Scholars have not played since Boxing Day and will also have the added incentive of inflicting payback on their opponents after a 3-0 reverse at the Beveree Stadium back in October.

Tillson told The Bath Chronicle: "The enthusiasm level amongst the players in training has been through the roof.

"Everyone has had a chance to work on their fitness and they just want to play a game now, we've just got to let them off the leash.

"Hampton are one of the form teams at the moment and they are difficult to play against, they really put a lot of pressure on the opposition.

"They beat us 3-0 earlier in the season but you can't read a lot into that game. We had Gary Warren sent off after 15 minutes and then lost our keeper, Jake Meredith, to injury when it was still 0-0. It was just one of those games.

"But we are in good shape and we are ready to go."

Hampton & Richmond Borough boss Alan Devonshire has warned his side that a draw is not an option this weekend.

The Beavers have drawn eight Blue Square South clashes this season and Devonshire is keen for his side to rekindle their play-off push.

Looking ahead to Saturday's clash, Devonshire told Yhis Is Local London: "They are a fit, full-time side so in many ways we are the underdogs even though we are above them in the league.

"They have got three games in hand and will be looking at this as a chance to close the gap on us and get themselves back in the mix.

"It is a totally different game this time around. The sending off probably changed the game in our favour last time. At that time they were top of the league.

"We always go out to win. We have drawn a lot of games already and can't really afford too many more if we want to challenge at the top."

Thurrock v Weston-S-Mare

Thurrock and Weston-super-Mare will both be gunning for three points on Saturday as they look to steer clear of an impending relegation scrap.

The Fleet sit in 16th place after suffering a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Chelmsford City on January 1st and have had a two-week break since then.

Weston boss Andy Gurney has turned up the heat on his squad ahead of Saturday's game, claiming his cannot afford to lose their next two league encounters.

He told the Weston & Somerset Mercury: "It's a bit of a six-pointer this weekend and the game after is also massive for us.

"They're big games. We can't afford to lose them and we have to be looking for maximum points."

The Seagulls have taken only one point from their last four league games and Gurney is confident his side can bounce back.

He added: "We have lost the last three games but we haven't always got what we deserved from them.

"It's silly mistakes that have cost us and there's no reason we can't cut them out."

Welling v Bishop's Stortford

Defender Sonny Cobbs and midfielder Jack Parkinson both return to contention for Welling's Blue Square South clash at home to Bishop's Stortford.

The pair missed the midweek FA Trophy defeat at Hednesford through suspension and being cup tied respectively.

However, Lee Blackburn misses out with a suspension, whilst Sanchez Ming is unavailable for Saturday's clash.

As a result, manager Andy Ford will have to reshuffle his pack.

He told Kent Online: "We have to tweak it again but I need to make sure I get it right.

"We had a great turnout for our last home game against Bromley and hopefully a few of those will come back again.

"Anyone who came to that game will see what we are trying to do."

Bishop's Stortford manager Mark Simpson is expected to hand a debut to Narada Bernard, after the left back joined the club on a month's loan from Maidenhead United.

The Blues are currently hovering just above the dreaded drop zone with 19 points from 21 fixtures.