E-mail Article Print this story

Related Links

Saturday's Blue Square South preview

A packed schedule of games should provide plenty of excitement this weekend, as the Blue Square South enters match day eight.

Top of the table Dover have been in fantastic form of late but face a tough trip to Havant & Waterlooville on Saturday. A win for the home side will see them go level on points with Dover, so expect an all out attack from Shaun Gale's men.

Dover player-manager Andy Hessenthaler has admitted his surprise at the way his newly promoted side have hit the ground running.

He told the club's official website: "I will admit I'm surprised. In the last two seasons we started well but I wasn't surprised because of the level we were playing at.

"Now we've made a far bigger jump and to be unbeaten after the first seven games is no mean feat.

"I knew the players bought in would have no problems. What concerned me was how the players we retained from last season would respond.

Basingstoke Town trail Dover on goal difference, but may get a chance to set that right this weekend when they take on second-from-bottom Lewes at The Dripping Pan.

Lewes have staved off a winding up order, and will be looking to put their financial woes behind them with improved performances on the pitch.

Manager Steve Ibbitson told the Sussex Express: "We're pleased we got what we were expecting because in view of the way that some of the discussions with the revenue (HM Revenue and Customs) have gone it could have been far worse as they have been very forceful.

"A couple of weeks ago we were fearing that we wouldn't be in this position so we are pleased that we got what we were expecting and were led to believe would happen."

Basingstoke Town boss Frank Gray, fresh from winning Blue Square's manager of the month award, told the Gazette: "Saturday will be another tough game because Lewes is always a difficult place to go to.

"They are in a bit of trouble and lost heavily on Monday but that will mean nothing come the weekend.

"They have got a lot of young kids in their side but they will try to make it hard for us.

"We have got to go there with exactly the same set-up and attitude that we have against Havant, Hampton and every other team."

Matt Warner, Adam Aimable and Ryan Stephens are all expected to miss the trip to Lewes due to injury but Matt Finlay, who did not feature in last weekend's games with a chest infection, should be in contention for a midfield berth.

Fourth placed Braintree Town face league strugglers Weston-Super-Mare, who have only one win and a draw to their name, at Woodspring Stadium.

Braintree will assess the fitness of striker Sean Marks ahead of the trip. He suffered a dead leg in the Iron's goal-less draw at Welling United last weekend and aggravated the injury against Chelmsford.

Here are the fixtures in full:

Bishops Sford v Bath City

Chelmsford v St Albans

Eastleigh v Staines Town

Hampton & Richm v Woking

Havant and W v Dover

Lewes v Basingstoke

Maidenhead Utd v Thurrock

Welling United v Newport County

Weston-S-Mare v Braintree Town

Weymouth v Bromley

Worcester City v Dorchester