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Blue Square South Boxing Day Preview

Boxing Day sees a full round of Blue Square South action. Come this way to read our preview of the matches which are sure to produce a few Christmas crackers.

Basingstoke v Eastleigh

Struggling Basingstoke Town will be looking to upset the odds and scupper high-flying Eastleigh at the Camrose Ground.

The hosts are currently in 20th spot and in desperate need of the three points as they look to advance away from the drop zone.

However, manager Frank Gray will be without the services of centre-back Jason Bristow, who is still recovering from his knee operation.

Sam Tucknott (bruised ankle) is also excepted to miss out along with on-loan forward Ross Montague (knee).

Visiting boss Ian Baird will want his charges to extend the Spitfires five-game winning streak and close the gap on leaders Chelmsford.

There have been no new reported concerns for the mentor ahead of the Boxing Day clash.

Bath City v Dorchester

Bath City manager Adie Britton expects his strikers to find the back of the net against an in-form Dorchester Town side on Friday.

The Romans were ousted 2-1 by Welling last weekend, which ended their three-game winning run.

And if they are to secure a play-off spot, the mentor knows they have to convert their chances - especially during the hectic festive period.

He told This Is Bath: "We have got to look closely at the proportion of chances we are taking.

"There are positives - we are creating chances, we are hard working and we are putting together some good phases of play - but equally there are areas of the game we need to work on."

Britton is wary of the Magpies, who have been in fine fettle of late.

"They are on a good run, which always seems to be the case when we play them," he added.

"They have got some good players as well. We tried to sign Nick Crittenden in the summer but they offered him more money.

"But these are important games for us. We have said that we want to be within three points of the play-offs by January 1 so we need to get something from these two matches."

Darren Edwards (head injury) could be back in contention for the encounter, while Gethin Jones, Sekani Simpson and Mark Badman are all doubtful.

Meanwhile, visiting mentor Shaun Brooks has a number of concerns going into the game, but expects his charges to continue their winning habits.

He told the Dorset Echo: "The aim is to keep the run going. We have been terrific of late but there are still things we can work on.

"Where we have been a bit more expansive in our attacking play recently we have perhaps not concentrated at the back as we might have done and because of that we have started to concede a few more goals. We have let in five in the last two games and it is important we now get the balance right between attack and defence.

"We cannot keep conceding two or three goals per game and expect to get something out of them so although we are playing well there is still room for improvement."

Patrece Liburd and Mitchell Nicholson will both miss the game through suspension, while Nathan Peprah-Annan and Gary Bowles (both chest infections) are doubtful.

Bognor Regis Town v Havant and Waterlooville

Rock-bottom Bognor Regis Town will be hoping to take advantage of an inconsistent Havant and Waterlooville outfit at Nyewood Lane.

Manager Mick Jenkins is gunning for all the spoils as he knows draws will not be enough to propel his charges out of the relegation zone.

"A point is a point but we need to start turning these draws into wins," he told the club's official website.

This will be the perfect chance for the Rocks to secure a victory as the Hawks have not managed to put together a winning run.

On the other hand the visitors ended their three-month wait for a Blue Square South win against St Albans on Saturday and manager Shaun Gale will be expecting his charges to build on that victory.

Braintree Town v Bishop's Stortford

Braintree Town caretaker manager Bradley Quinton confirmed he will have a full-strength squad at his disposal when Bishop's Stortford visit Woodside Park.

Quinton, is hoping to lead the Iron out on a permanent basis and will looking to impress chairman Lee Harding by obtaining maximum points during the festive season.

The mentor also feels victory against Bishops will help his side in their quest for a play-off place.

"We are now totally focussed on winning both our next two games and picking up all the points," he told the Chronicle.

"Everyone is now available with players back from injury and suspension and I believe we can still make the play-offs this season."

Mark Simpson on the other hand, will have to do without youngster Liam Hopkins, who has picked up a hairline fracture on his foot.

However, the manager will be boosted by the availability of striker Sam Higgins, whom they re-signed from Fisher Athletic and fit-again centre-half Steve King.

Bromley v Welling

Bromley will look to rain on Welling United's plans to secure a play-off spot during the festive period at the Courage Stadium.

The 11th-placed hosts will be boosted by the return of fans' favourite Kirk Watts to the club for his fourth spell and his experience will come in handy against the Wings.

The visitors, meanwhile, look set to be without striker Darren Edwards, who suffered a nasty gash to the head in their last encounter.

Stuart Douglas is expected to fill in for him.

Fisher Athletic v AFC Wimbledon

Fisher Athletic will hope to hand their fans some Christmas cheer as they look to climb out of the relegation zone against AFC Wimbledon.

The Fish have had a tough time of it this season and will hope to gain a major boost with a three-point haul.

The home side have struggled in defence and will need to improve on that if they are to have any chance of avoiding the drop.

AFC Wimbledon go into this clash knowing that a victory will strengthen their hopes of claiming a play-off position.

The Dons have two games in hand over leaders Chelmsford City and are currently nine points behind them.

Jon Main is currently the Blue Square South's top scorer and he will be looking to add to his tally of 13 goals on Friday afternoon.

Hayes & Yeading v Maidenhead United

Hayes & Yeading will be looking to leapfrog Maidenhead United when the two teams clash at Church Road.

Both teams have had successful seasons so far and will look to build on their current league positions going into the second half of the campaign.

Richard Pacquette has been United's key figure this season, having scored 10 goals.

Josh Scott is Hayes & Yeading's top goalscorer with eight goals to his name.

Both forwards will be hoping to add to their totals for the season when they meet in this top-of-the-table clash.

Newport County v Worcester City

Newport County will view their clash with Worcester City as an ideal opportunity to create some space between themselves and the relegation zone.

The Exiles have struggled to make an impact this season and will hope that they can create some extra Christmas cheer for their fans come Friday.

The home side have won just three matches this season, a statistic which they will need to improve on if they are to avoid the drop.

Phil Walsh will not be available for County as he has joined Tiverton Town.

Worcester City remain in touching distance of the play-off places, but they will need to improve their away form if they are to turn those dreams into reality.

Marco Adaggio has been in fine fettle for City this season and he will be hoping to continue that form on Boxing Day.

St Albans v Hampton & Richmond

Hampton & Richmond go into their Boxing Day clash away at St Albans knowing that a victory will do their hopes of promotion no harm.

Hampton are currently ten points behind league-leaders Chelsmford, having played a game less.

A win will not only strengthen their hopes of promotion but it will provide the team with a boost going into the second half of the season.

St Albans, who have play-off hopes of their own, need to make Clarence Park a fortress if they are to progress this season.

Paul Hakim has been in fine form for the Saints this season and will look to build on his nine-goal tally. Ben Wright has been the Beavers' star with nine goals to his name.

It all shapes up for an interesting fixture, with both teams eager to claim a much-needed boost.

Weston-Super-Mare v Team Bath

Weston-Super-Mare and Team Bath clash on Boxing Day with very different agendas on their minds.

Weston-Super-Mare are not safe from the drop zone and will view the three points as a must, while Team Bath could climb into the play-off places with a maximum haul.

The home side will be without Ben Willshire and Charlie Comyn-Platt due to respective injuries.

Steve Abbott is Team Bath's key man for the clash with the forward currently in top form.

This match should prove to be a Christmas cracker, with both teams eager to claim the three points.