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Saturday's Blue Square South Preview

The Blue Square South sees 10 matches take place on Saturday afternoon. Come this way to find out more...

Basingstoke Town v Dorchester Town

Basingstoke and Dorchester clash in a relegation battle at The Camrose on Saturday afternoon.

Basingstoke manager Frank Gray understands the magnitude of this fixture and is confident ahead of kick off.

"Saturday is a massive game," Gray told the Basingstoke Gazette.

"We have put ourselves in a good position in the league now and have to make sure that we do not let that slip.

"It's no good doing the hard work to get out of the bottom three and then throwing it away. We want to consolidate our position and push on even higher.

"If we win on Saturday we will drag Dorchester right into it and go three points above Havant because they are playing in the FA Trophy. They will have games in hand but if we go above them they will have to win those, so it's an important game."

Gray will have Joe Dolan, Tom Williamson and Sean Hankin available for selection following knocks.

However, Adam Aimable and Jason Bristow are both sidelined through injury.

Dorchester Town caretaker-manager Brian O'Donnell believes his side simply have to take something away with them.

O'Donnell told the Dorset Echo: "It's a vital game for us and we need something out of it whether it's a draw or a win.

"They're going well at the moment and their home form is great, I don't think they've lost there in the league since November, so they'll be a tough nut to crack.

"But I'm sure we'll give a good account of ourselves. It's a vital game and we'll be prepared to go there and take the game to them."

O'Donnell will have Danny Clay available for selection following a ban.

New recruit Richard Whittingham may feature, while Darren Watts is sidelined through injury.

Bath City v Hampton & Richmond

Bath City will view their clash with Hampton & Richmond this weekend as a must-win fixture if they are to achieve a place in the play-offs.

City manager Adie Britton has targeted two victories from his side's next two matches if they are to make a success of their season.

Brittion told This Is Bath: "We never look more than two or three games in front but we do set ourselves little targets.

"We need to get six points from the next three games and if we keep picking up six points out of nine for the rest of the season then we will be in the play-offs.

"If we could get one of the wins on Saturday then that would be a damn good start. It is an important game because if we do get in the play-offs then Hampton & Richmond could be one of our opponents.

"Once that is out of the way we will look ahead to Weston. Those games look after themselves because the players know each other so well and there is an intense rivalry on the pitch.

"I know Lewis Hogg was pleased he didn't pick up a booking against Wimbledon last week so he can play against his old club, he's looking forward to it."

Hampton & Richmond are currently nine points off league leaders AFC Wimbledon with a game in hand.

A victory on Saturday will further boost the club's morale as they go in search of automatic promotion.

The Beavers have only lost four matches this season so confidence will be high going into this important fixture.

Bognor Regis Town v Chelmsford

Chelmsford City have no intentions of taking things easy this Saturday as they make the trip to Bognor Regis Town looking for three more points to add to their Blue Square South promotion push.

The Clarets restored their confidence after a 2-1 victory at home to Dorchester Town at Melbourne last weekend, which was followed by a dramatic, last-gasp win by the same scoreline in the Essex Senior Cup against Colchester United on Monday night.

But their focus is now fully on Bognor, a match they must win in order to keep up with the pace of A.F.C. Wimbledon, who are six points clear at the top.

Bognor remain rooted to the bottom of the table with just three wins from their thirty games so far, and their cause hasn't been helped by a seven-point deduction for registration irregularities earlier in the campaign.

The Rocks had a brief sight of success a fortnight ago when they were 2-0 to the good at home to Basingstoke Town with five minutes remaining, only to go down 3-2.

City, meanwhile, expect to have a predominantly full squad to select from ahead of their journey to Sussex.

New left full-back Erkan Okay is the only slight concern having limped out of the midweek Colchester match.

However, of the injuries sustained in that same game, striker Lawrie Dudfield seems to have shaken off his leg knock and winger Ricky Holmes will return after an accidental blow to the head.

Bromley v Newport County

Newport County manager Dean Holdsworth has warned his players ahead of the clash with Bromley that they are playing for their futures at the club.

Holdsworth told the South Wales Argus: "There is no way the season is going to drift, I won't let that happen.

"I've been in football a long time now and I've never taken it easy, I want to win every game and I expect the players to have the same attitude.

"I've told them that they are all playing for their place in the squad next season."

The Exiles will hand Sam Foley, Kris Leek and Ashley Vickers fitness tests ahead of the match, while Nathan Davies is not fit enough to feature.

Kaid Mohamed, Danny Rose, Aaron Cook, Craig Reid and Kevin Cooper are all sidelined.

Bromley are on level points with Newport going into this fixture and a victory for the home side would bring to an end a run of three defeats.

Morale has hit a bit of a low recently and a three-point haul will do the world of good for the Ravens.

Eastleigh v Bishop's Stortford

Bishop's Stortford manager Mark Simpson is hoping to tie down Lewis Smith until the end of the season ahead of the clash with Eastleigh.

Simpson told Herts And Essex Observer: "I think we will keep him until the end of the season and hope to sort it out [with his agent] in the next week or so.

"He's a natural goalscorer and he has the knack of being in the right place at the right time.

"The type of football Lewis was playing at Fulham was not so physical but he has got more used to it since the Braintree games. We need quality players like him."

Bishops captain Paul Goodacre will require a late fitness test, while Nerada Bernard is also rated as a doubt.

Eastleigh are in with a chance of claiming the title this season, but it is going to take a huge effort from everyone involved with the club.

The Spitfires currently lie nine points off top spot and should secure a play-off place, but the title would cap off a wonderful season for the Silverlake Stadium outfit.

Fisher Athletic v Worcester City

Jordan Fitzpatrick looks set to start when his Worcester City side travel to Fisher Athletic.

Dave Bampton will therefore miss out, while Jon Richardson and Graham Ward are back in contention.

Manager Richard Dryden told Worcester News: "We would like to get three points from it but you don't expect anything in this league.

"I spoke to Ian Baird (Eastleigh manager) and Fisher had six new players because their transfer embargo has been lifted and they might have some new ones in before Saturday.

"It's hard to get a decent scouting report on them but they have still got to gel and our squad has been together for a long time.

"Realistically, we want to go down there and win the game and make it eight away wins and two in a row."

Fisher Athletic are currently struggling at the wrong end of the table and are in desperate need of a three-point haul.

The Fish have been leaky defence this season and if they fail to tighten up at the back then they are in serious danger of dropping down a division.

Hayes & Yeading v St Albans

St Albans are in need of a three-point haul at Hayes & Yeading as they look to put any thoughts of relegation firmly behind them.

Saints manager Steve Castle knows his side are in for a challenge on Saturday but is confident that they have what it takes to grab a win.

Castle told St Albans Review: "I know that Hayes and Yeading are a damn good footballing outfit. We would have to be at our best and playing for the whole 90 minutes to win.

"We are competing with a very good team that goes forward very well with good players, but that is in no way taking anything away from my players.

"We played them earlier in the season and we were unlucky to not come away with three points, and we would have done if it wasn't for an awful decision by the referee.

"That was us really at full pelt and had we won, it would have taken us up to third I think.

"There is not a lot of difference personnel-wise. They are a good forward-thinking side and I won't be taking them lightly."

Ben Martin, James Fisher and Simon Martin are all available for selection for the Saints boss, while Lee Clarke looks set to miss the clash.

Hayes & Yeading have not won in three matches and will look to put that run of form behind them as they go in search of a play-off place.

A play-off spot is not out of reach for United and a good run of form could lift them into the coveted positions.

Maidenhead United v Team Bath

Maidenhead United will view their clash with Team Bath as the ideal opportunity to further cement their place in the play-offs.

Both sides are among the chasing pack for a play-off spot, with the Magpies the more likely to secure a place given their current position.

Team Bath have struggled of late, picking up just four points from their last six matches.

United have been a little more successful, having notched up 10 points from their previous six outings.

The home side have struggled to pull the crowds this season with an average attendance of just 462 fans per match. However, they are going to need all the support they can get as they look to move up a division this season.

Thurrock v AFC Wimbledon

AFC Wimbledon will be looking to stretch their lead at the top of the table when they travel to Thurrock.

Defender Alan Inns should be back in time for the Dons and manager Terry Brown is excited about his return to action.

Brown told South London Press: "Alan was desperate to play [on Tuesday] and he needed a game because he hasn't had too many in recent weeks.

"But he's had this problem since the weekend and it looks like it could be a bout of food poisoning.

"He should be over the worst of it by Saturday, though, and I expect him to be available for the Thurrock game."

Kennedy Adjei will once again feature after making his return to the side in midweek.

Thurrock are currently struggling at the wrong end of the table and need a couple of good results if they are to avoid the drop.

A victory on Saturday seems unlikely given the Dons' excellent run of form recently, but stranger things have happened in football and the home fans will be hoping for the best come kick off.

Weston-Super-Mare v Braintree Town

Weston-Super-Mare and Braintree Town clash on Saturday with both sides eager to claim the three points.

Weston boss Andy Gurney is hoping that a couple of good results will see the stadium starting to fill up for home games, starting with the clash on Saturday.

Gurney told the club's official website: "It is what it is and I am sure that if we start winning a few more games then a few more people will come through the gate.

"It has been enjoyable and you know, I think it could be an exciting place to be over the next couple of years if we can keep improving and that might sound daft because we got beat today but anyone who was there knows that we didn't deserve to be and thing's are going in the right direction now."

Braintree Town have Ryan Moran, Micky Shinn and Chris Piper available for selection for the trip.

Braintree player-manager Brad Quinton has no other injury or suspension concerns to contend with ahead of kick off.