THE final preview of 2010 has ten fixtures. CRC & Histon Reserves find themselves with a Christmas holiday as the Conference sides go head to head at Bridge Road and for the remaining 10 games some are more local than others.

RIDGEONS PREVIEW FOR MONDAY

The final preview of 2010 has ten fixtures. CRC & Histon Reserves find themselves with a Christmas holiday as the Conference sides go head to head at Bridge Road and for the remaining 10 games some are more local than others.

BRANTHAM ATHLETIC V FC CLACTON (3pm)

SEVENTEEN miles and seven places separate the clubs. The home side start the day in 21st place with just one win at The BLC ground while their visitors have won four times and lost just once on their travels. Athletic’s one home win was last time out when they beat Kirkley & Pakefield, while the Essex Seasiders beat the same opposition on their last away day although that was a month ago in Mid- November and they lost heavily in their last game against CRC at Rush Green.

DEREHAM TOWN V WROXHAM (3pm)

TWENTY-THREE miles and one place separate these two. Without doubt Match of the Day, as first hosts second with Wroxham having the opportunity to close to within four points of the leaders while a home win will see the gap extended to ten having both played the same amount of games. The Magpies are yet to lose a league game at Aldiss Park but the Yachtsmen have won eight times on the road.

HAVERHILL ROVERS V HADLEIGH UNITED (Noon)

TWENTY-EIGHT miles and four places between these two with fourth-placed Rovers on a five-match winning run at home to the eighth-placed Brettsiders who have lost just once in their last six scoring 18 times in those games. Rovers’ home record has let them down having lost three and drawn three of their dozen games at the New Croft while their visitors have taken just one point from a possible 18 against sides currently above them in the table.

LEISTON V KIRKLEY & PAKEFIELD (3pm)

TWENTY-THREE coastal miles and three places between these two, but a huge gap in current form. Third-placed Leiston lost for the only time on the opening day of the season and have five wins from their last six while visitors Kirkley in fifth place have been hit by five defeats in their last six. A restructuring of the players contract at Walmer Road may have an on field effect to the club but all the players will be ready for this encounter as will the free scoring home side.

MILDENHALL TOWN V ELY CITY (Noon)

FIFTEEN miles and seven places separate the two clubs at start of play but they are going in different directions unless The Robins can halt the ‘Halls improving form. Three wins from their last four, including victory over the current leaders has lifted the home side into the top ten while just one win from their last nine has seen the visitors slip to within four places of the relegation zone.

NEWMARKET TOWN V WISBECH TOWN (2pm)

THIRTY-EIGHT miles and two places between the sides. The Fenmen have the longest journey of all the clubs playing but with just one defeat in seven and a decent record on the road they won’t have to many complaints about their trip although they must pass Ely almost mid-way through their journey. The Jockeys have lost their last three but have put a seven match unbeaten run together already this season and will be looking to start another here.

NORWICH UNITED V GT. YARMOUTH TOWN (11.30am)

The short journey along the Acle straight sees The Bloaters with a 13-mile trip, but distance is not a problem for the troubled club at present. They will hope to have resolved their off-field financial problems before this game as they face the seventh-placed side who are in decent form at present, three wins from four, with that defeat at Victory Road in Mid-November their last game.

STANWAY ROVERS V WIVENHOE TOWN (3pm)

SEVENTEENTH versus 13th and a short hop across town for Wivenhoe with eight miles officially separating the two clubs but back roads likely to make it a lot closer. A good start to the season has seen the Dragons lift themselves up the table while Rovers have been involved in national cup competition to leave them with eight games in hand over their visitors who have a six point advantage.

WALSHAM Le WILLOWS V DEBENHAM LC (3pm)

It is not too many years ago these two were making the 23 mile journey as Suffolk & Ipswich League clubs but now it is serious business between the two as they both battle to preserve their Premier Division status. The home side are the draw specialists this season with over half their games finishing all square and have taken a couple of important scalps in recent games. Debenham have struggled in recent matches losing three of the last four but this is a battle to get or stay above the relegation zone with a win or a draw for the home side seeing them climb above their visitors.

WOODBRIDGE TOWN V FELIXSTOWE & WALTON UNITED (3pm)

THE Seasiders with a 12-mile journey have the second shortest trip of the day as 11th meets 22nd but have a long way to make up in league form. The home side struggled early season but six straight wins in a nine match unbeaten run has seen them looking healthy in mid-table. Their visitors have slumped to the foot of the table with just one win between six defeats and know they must improve or be cut adrift at the bottom. With new faces and a rescinding injury crisis they will see this as a crucial game.