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Blue Square South Easter Preview

Chelmsford City and Dover Athletic will be looking to consolidate their respective play-off positions in Saturday's round of Blue Square South fixtures.

Basingstoke Town play host to Havant and Waterlooville at the Camrose as they aim to record a second straight league victory.

Frank Gray's side have all but secured their safety and currently occupy 14th place with 46 points from 37 fixtures.

The Hawks, meanwhile, will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to four games after a 2-1 victory over Weston-super-Mare last weekend.

Thirteenth-placed Bromley will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways when high-flying Chelmsford City visit the Courage Stadium.

The Ravens suffered a 3-2 defeat at the hands of play-off chasing Thurrock in midweek, while Chelmsford saw off the challenge of strugglers Hampton & Richmond Borough last weekend.

Chelmsford head coach Glenn Pennyfather is expecting a stern test from Bromley, telling the club's official website: "It's a little bit like the Christmas period as games are coming thick and fast and we've got to make sure we prepare properly.

"We've not done so well against Bromley in recent times - it's a bit of a bogey ground for us which we hope to put to bed on Saturday.

"Three league defeats in 24 games is good by anyone's standards and I think we've had six wins in a row so it's important to keep that momentum going."

Third-placed Dover Athletic take on Eastleigh at the Crabble Stadium on Saturday as they aim to record a fifth consecutive victory.

The Whites currently have 65 points to their name and manager Andy Hessenthaler reckons his side needs to pick up six more points to solidify their current play-off berth.

Hessenthaler told Kent Online: "We're a form side and maybe we're coming good just at the right time.

"We haven't really talked about points targets but if we're going to be realistic about it, we need to get two wins out of the last five - 71 points should be enough to make the play-offs.

"We're looking to finish second, though but that's not going to be easy."

Eastleigh are currently in midtable with 53 points from 36 games after a 4-1 defeat to Hampton & Richmond Borough last Saturday.

Newport County manager Dean Holdsworth is expected to reshuffle his pack for the visit of Maidenhead United to Newport Stadium.

The Exiles have already clinched automatic promotion to the Blue Square Premier and Holdsworth has revealed that he has a number of injury concerns ahead of Saturday's clash.

Holdsworth told the South Wales Argus: "It's a great time for us, we're far happier than we were a week ago without a doubt.

"We like winning and it was a big result for us on Saturday (a 1-0 victory over Woking) on the back of a very bad one," (a 2-1 reverse at Thurrock, just County's second league defeat of the campaign.

"But it's taken a toll on us because we've got lots of players starting to feel it after a long season, we've got lots of bumps and bruises and little strains and we'll have to monitor the situation throughout the week.

"We don't have a massive squad compared to some other sides and this weekend will be a good chance to get some game time for plenty of the boys."

Maidenhead United have already secured their safety in the Blue Square South with a total of 42 points from 36 fixtures.

Elsewhere, 12th placed St Albans City prepare to face strugglers Bishop's Stortford at Clarence Park, while play-off hopefuls Thurrock entertain 18th placed Hampton & Richmond Borough at Ship Lane.

Rock-bottom Weymouth play host to fellow relegation candidates Weston-super-Mare at the Wessex Stadium, while 10th placed Woking prepare for the visit of relegation-threatened Lewes to Kingfield Stadium.

Saturday's Blue Square South Fixtures:

Basingstoke v Havant and W, 15:00

Bromley v Chelmsford, 15:00

Dover v Eastleigh, 15:00

Newport County v Maidenhead Utd, 15:00

St Albans v Bishop's Stortford, 15:00

Thurrock v Hampton & Richmond, 15:00

Weymouth v Weston-S-Mare, 15:00

Woking v Lewes, 15:00

Easter Monday:

In the pick of Monday's encounters, play-off chasing Welling United face high-flying Dover Athletic at Park View Road, while play-off hopefuls Chelmsford City and Braintree Town do battle.

Maidenhead United, who are in lower midtable, take on another promotion hopeful in Staines Town at York Road, and relegation-threatened Worcester City play host to Bath City at St George's Lane.

League champions Newport County have a bye on Easter Monday but will return to action the following evening when they travel to Weston-super-Mare.

Monday's Blue Square South Fixtures:

Bishop's Stortford v Thurrock, 15:00

Chelmsford v Braintree Town, 15:00

Dorchester v Basingstoke, 15:00

Eastleigh v Woking, 15:00

Hampton & Richmond v St Albans, 15:00

Havant and W v Weymouth, 15:00

Lewes v Bromley, 15:00

Maidenhead Utd v Staines Town, 15:00

Welling v Dover, 15:00

Worcester v Bath City, 15:00