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Midweek Blue Square South Preview

The race for the title and fight against relegation are beginning to heat up in the Blue Square South. Come this way to read the midweek preview...

Chelmsford v Team Bath

Chelmsford City's squad will be left in no doubt as to what is expected of them when they entertain Team Bath in their first ever meeting at the Melbourne Stadium on Monday night.

Head Coach Glenn Pennyfather revealed to the club's official website: "The players owe the fans a performance."

Three defeats in four league games have severely hampered the Clarets' chances of automatic promotion, and Pennyfather is aware the onus is on City to raise their standards if they are to challenge, explaining: "To be fair to A.F.C. Wimbledon, they're dealing with the pressure very well, but it's a nice kind of pressure when you're at the top.

"All the real pressure is on us now to catch them, and games are quickly running out.

"The players have got to up their game, they have no choice.

"People travelled a long way to see us lose at Bognor and the players now owe the fans a performance."

Chelmsford are almost up to their full squad numbers for the visit of the West Country outfit, and have just Ricky Holmes missing through injury.

"We will be without Ricky for another week as there is a statutory amount of time you have to give a player recovering from concussion," Glenn added.

"He will be a big loss for us as he makes things happen but other people will now have to step up to the plate.

"Other than that, we're pretty much all fit and raring to go."

Team Bath have surprised many in their first season at this level, taking the jump up in standard from B.G.B. Southern League level in their stride.

Andy Tillson's team sit just six points off the play-off places with two games in hand, having impressed in their 2-0 victory at Maidenhead United over the weekend.

Pennyfather added: "They are a hard-working, 4-4-2 kind of team with a bit of pace.

"You only have to look at their results to see that they're having a good season."

AFC Wimbledon v Worcester City

League-leaders AFC Wimbledon will look to extend their lead at the top when they take on Worcester City at Kingsmeadow on Tuesday evening.

However, Worcester manager Richard Dryden has promised that his side will show no fear during the encounter.

Dryden told Worcester News: "They're a great side and it's a great set-up from the fans right the way up to the board of directors.

"I think, looking at the results and the performances I have been told about, they deserve to be at the top.

"It's game where you go with no fear because no-one expects us to get anything there apart from us."

Dryden will not be able to call upon John Curtis after he left the club for a trial at Notts County.

AFC Wimbledon have been in fantastic form of late and look set to take the Blue Square South title if they are able to continue with their current run of form.

The Dons have picked up 18 points from their last six matches and are on an unbeaten run of 13 games.

The league leaders can put some of their success this season down to the fantastic support which they have received at both home and away matches, with the Dons holding the record for the highest average attendance this season - 3058 fans.

Bath City v Weston-Super-Mare

Bath City will be hoping to get back to winning ways when they entertain Weston-Super-Mare at Twerton Park on Tuesday evening.

City have lost their last two matches and goalkeeper Steve Perrin is hoping to pick up the three points against Weston.

He told This Is Bath: "Given the character in the side there is no doubt we will bounce back and we have just got to start again on Tuesday.

"I thought Hampton were a strong side and we just weren't at it for some reason. I don't know why, you get days like that sometimes, but we still nearly held out for a point when we weren't playing well.

"We have just got to pick ourselves up for Weston."

Fellow goalkeeper Paul Evans is nearing a return to action but will not feature on Tuesday.

A good run of form of late has helped Weston climb clear of the relegation zone.

The Seagulls have picked up 10 points from their last six matches and have in the process created a gap of six points between themselves and the drop zone.

A mid-table finish is not out of reach for the Woodspring Stadium club and another run of good results should see them reach that target.

Braintree Town v Havant & Waterlooville

Kick Off at 19,45 on Tuesday

Team news to follow...

Bromley v Bognor Regis Town

Kick Off at 19,45 on Tuesday

Team news to follow...

Hampton & Richmond v Bishop's Stortford

Hampton & Richmond will be hoping to close the gap at the top when they entertain Bishop's Stortford on Tuesday evening.

However, the Bishops are currently buzzing and will be up to the challenge at the Beveree Stadium.

Bishops assistant-boss Gordon Boateng told NonLeagueDaily: "Everyone has worked so hard to turn things around and a move up to fifteenth in the table is, in no small measure, just reward for this achievement.

"A buzz has returned, but no-one will rest on their laurels."

Bishop's Stortford are not clear of relegation just yet and a victory on Tuesday will go a long way in their bid for survival.

However, Hampton & Richmond are currently on a fantastic run of form and will be looking to keep it going as they go in search of promotion.

The Beavers have not lost in the league since November and have picked up six wins from six matches recently.

Maidenhead United v Fisher Athletic

Maidenhead United will be looking to strengthen their play-off hopes when they clash with bottom-of-the-table Fisher Athletic on Tuesday evening.

The Magpies may have Rocky Baptiste available for selection after he was allowed to take compassionate leave.

Dominic Sterling will be pushing for a starting berth, while Marvin Hong will be hoping to make the squad.

Trialist Jon Stevenson should feature once again after making an appearance from the bench over the weekend.

Fisher Athletic have slipped to the bottom of the table following their defeat over the weekend and they will be looking to put that right on Tuesday.

The Fish are in danger of being cut adrift at the bottom and will need to improve on their form if they are to stay up.

St Albans v Basingstoke

St Albans are hoping to strengthen their squad ahead of their crunch clash with Basingstoke on Tuesday evening.

Saints manager Steve Castle feels his squad is not quite strong enough and will be looking to the loan market to sort out his problems.

Castle told The Herts Advertiser: "We've tried tirelessly to be honest; the amount of phone calls we've made is frightening and we're not really getting much joy out of it.

"It would be great bolstering it with two or three. Soloman's [Shields] come in and shown what he's about especially first half and of course he scored, so we're hoping on a few favours from people and hopefully before Tuesday we might have a few new faces."

He continued: "Putting it quite bluntly, we can't get the lads that we would want to get in to bolster ourselves up.

"If they're in a successful campaign themselves they don't really want to come to us or a club of this stature at this time of year and then all you've got really with due respect is work experience lads.

"Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't."

Castle also believes that Tuesday's match is a must-win affair.

He added: "This Tuesday is becoming a must win. We've got to get on the winning road. We haven't got a fantastic squad number but we've got to deal with it and hopefully Adam Everitt will be ok on Tuesday and then you've got maybe that Ryan Frater could be ok.

"It'll be a very tough game. We've just got to have faith that we've got enough about ourselves to show that we're a better team than a struggling team but at this moment in time we've not had a win in 14 weeks and I wouldn't say confidence is low but we've just got to perform for 90 minutes. Hopefully we can get ourselves in front and show what good players they can be."

Basingstoke are lingering just above the relegation zone and are in desperate need of the three points.

The Dragons drew 0-0 over the weekend and will be looking to pick up a maximum in order to boost the confidence within the squad.

Welling United v Hayes & Yeading

Kick Off at 19,45 on Tuesday

Team news to follow...

Newport County v Eastleigh

Kick Off at 19,45 on Wednesday

Team news to follow...