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AFC Wimbledon boss Terry Brown

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Saturday's Blue Square South Preview

AFC Wimbledon play host to Team Bath as they look to increase their lead at the top of the pile, while second-placed Hampton & Richmond visit relegation-threatened Dorchester Town.

Terry Brown's AFC Wimbledon will be looking to bounce back to winning ways on Saturday afternoon when ninth-placed Team Bath visit Kingsmeadow.

Brown spoke to his club's official website ahead of the game and said: "Only five games to go, with this Saturday obviously being the most important as we are in need of a morale-boosting win. The players will not need any motivation. I hope they retain some of the anger and commitment they showed after the game last week. We now know exactly what we need to do and it has to start with three points on Saturday.

"I've looked at the scout's report from the Team Bath v Chelmsford game and, on the day, Team Bath played very well. They travel here knowing that they need a win to stay in touch with the play offs and we know that, because they are a full time side, they will certainly be focusing on their trip to Kingsmeadow.

"With all due respect to Team Bath, it is not what they do that matters on Saturday, it is how my players react to back-to-back defeats; as the players are aware, we can't afford any more slip ups.

"Several of the injuries that we have had over the last couple of weeks now look to be improving and we should go into the final five games with a large and well-motivated squad. However, Kennedy Adjei hasn't been able to train this week and he will not be available to play on Saturday.

"Also, Danny Kedwell's injury has meant that he has been unable to train this week. However, I can tell you now that Danny will declare himself fit for Saturday. He has been playing in recent weeks carrying an injury and possesses the type of determination that makes him the player that he is.

"Jason Goodliffe and Jake Leberl will resume light training tonight and are in contention for places. Andy Sambrook, Mickey Haswell, Tony Finn and new signing Rocky Baptiste will be taking part in our reserves' game at Croydon Athletic's ground tonight.

"The really good news we have on injuries is that Lewis Taylor is much more advanced in his recovery than we had initially given him credit for. This is due in no small measure to the expertise of Mike Rayner and the 100% commitment of Lewis himself over the last eight months."

Team Bath have enjoyed an upturn in form recently, recording two straight wins to lift themselves into the top-half of the table.

The Scholars followed up last week's 2-0 win against Thurrock with a 2-0 victory over promotion-chasing Chelmsford City at Twerton Park last Saturday.

17th-placed Basingstoke Town prepare to take on relegation-threatened Thurrock at The Camrose, while Bath City will be looking to keep their play-off aspirations alive when 13th-placed Braintree Town make the trip to Twerton Park.

Mid-table Bishop's Stortford can expect a stern test when promotion hopefuls Eastleigh visit Woodside Park.

The Bishops recorded a comfortable 3-0 victory over rock-bottom Fisher Athletic last weekend thanks to a superb hat-trick by on-loan striker Lewis Smith.

They'll be looking for a repeat performance from the Fulham forward against the Spitfires, who have been in scintillating form recently.

Eastleigh boss Ian Baird is on the verge of agreeing a new deal which will keep him at the club until October 2011.

This comes after the Spitfires recorded eight wins, two draws and one defeat in their last 11 Blue Square South fixtures.

Play-off contenders Chelmsford City prepare for the visit of 15th-placed Worcester City after claiming the Essex Senior Cup with a 2-0 victory over Concord Rangers on Tuesday night.

Head coach Glenn Pennyfather was a delighted man after seeing the Clarets claim their first County Cup title since 2003.

He told the Chelmsford Weekly News: "I hope this will now give us the confidence to take into our league form and give us the platform to achieve even more. We have seven games left, plus hopefully three more!"

Meanwhile, City boss Richard Dryden is sweating on the fitness of key defender Tom Kemp, who suffered a recurrence of ankle and calf problems in the game against Dorchester.

Dryden told Worcester News: "We tried to rush him back because he's an important part of our squad but he wasn't fully fit.

"We will rest him if he needs it because he can't keep playing for 10 or 20 minutes."

19th-placed Dorchester Town play host to high-flying Hampton & Richmond Borough as they look to open a gap on the dreaded drop zone.

However, they will face stiff competition from the Beavers, who are trailing league leaders AFC Wimbledon by three points with a game in hand.

Dorchester assistant manager Ashley Vickers told the Dorset Echo: "We've just got to go into the game and give it our best.

"We were solid at Worcester last Saturday and if we can do that again, and not concede, then we might be able to nick a goal.

"Hampton have got a lot to play for but so have we, perhaps we've got more to play for than them.

"The lads are under no illusions how important each game is right now and they're fully aware what's at stake.

"We've just got to play in the right areas and hopefully we'll able to get something out of the game. Hampton are up there for a reason but we want to secure our safety. We've got a full squad to choose from and we've got to make sure we compete."

Hampton & Richmond recorded a 2-1 win against strugglers Havant & Waterlooville last weekend and manager Alan Devonshire will undoubtedly be looking for more of the same on Saturday.

18th-placed Havant and Waterlooville play host to play-off hopefuls Maidenhead United at West Leigh Park, where both teams will be focused on collecting all three points for very different reasons.

The Hawks are in desperate need of a morale-boosting victory, while the Magpies will be looking to keep their play-off aspirations alive.

Fourth-placed Hayes & Yeading prepare to take on mid-table Bromley on Saturday as they look to strengthen their position in the play-off zone.

United manager Garry Haylock will be hoping the 'manager of the month curse' doesn't strike for a second time after scooping the Blue Square South manager of the month award for March.

Haylock has also strengthened his squad this week ahead of the transfer deadline, with the capture of 25-year-old goalkeeper Steve Williams and 17-year-old right-back Jack Pattison.

Bromley recorded a 1-1 draw against Bath City last weekend and then crashed out of the Kent Senior Cup Semi Final in midweek after losing 3-2 to visitors Whitstable Town.

14th-placed Newport County play host to rock-bottom Fisher Athletic at Newport Stadium, while 10th-placed St Albans City prepare to take on 16th-placed Weston-super-Mare.

Eighth-placed Welling United will be looking to bounce back to winning ways when second-from-bottom Bognor Regis Town visit Park View Road.

The Wings' play-off aspirations took a denting last weekend, when they suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Maidenhead United.

Looking ahead to Saturday's clash, Welling assistant manager Jimmy Dack told News Shopper Online: "I think it'll be a tough game.

"They are fighting a relegation battle and although I don't really concentrate on other clubs, I saw they were down there in the bottom three.

"If it was me and I was playing for them, I'd be fighting tooth and nail to try and stay in the league.

"They've always been a good passing team and the pitch will suit them because it is nice and flat, which will give them the opportunity to get the ball down."

Bognor currently find themselves at the wrong end of the table with a disappointing total of 22 points from 37 games.

Saturday's Blue Square South Fixtures

AFC Wimbledon v Team Bath, 15:00

Basingstoke v Thurrock, 15:00

Bath City v Braintree Town, 15:00

Bishop's Stortford v Eastleigh, 15:00

Chelmsford v Worcester, 15:00

Dorchester v Hampton & Richmond, 15:00

Havant and W v Maidenhead Utd, 15:00

Hayes & Yeading v Bromley, 15:00

Newport County v Fisher Athletic, 15:00

St Albans v Weston-S-Mare, 15:00

Welling v Bognor Regis Town, 15:00