THE weekend's Ridgeons League Premier action will determine who is top at Christmas in 2009.Phil Griffiths takes a look at the action.Dereham (11th) v Haverhill (17th)DEREHAM saw their min-run halted last week at Newmarket but this is the first of three home games over the holiday period and they will want to make the most of these to put themselves into a healthy position for the New Year.

PREVIEW OF TODAY'S RIDGEONS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION GAMES

THE weekend's Ridgeons League Premier action will determine who is top at Christmas in 2009. Phil Griffiths takes a look at the action. Readers are advised to check whether matches are still on before setting off.

Dereham (11th) v Haverhill (17th)

DEREHAM saw their min-run halted last week at Newmarket but this is the first of three home games over the holiday period and they will want to make the most of these to put themselves into a healthy position for the New Year. Visitors Haverhill regained some ground last week after three straight defeats and have games in hand over those above them, a win here could lift them three places up the table.

Felixstowe & Walton (5th) v Ely (16th)

THE home side grabbed an injury-time winner last week to keep their impressive home record healthy and will be looking to keep their run going against an Ely side who have a poor record on the road this season. The visitors are always a difficult side to beat and the Seasiders will find this another difficult encounter, but one they will feel they can win.

Harwich & Parkeston (21st) v Kirkley & Pakefield (7th)

THE Shrimpers have picked up just one point at The Royal Oak and are on a 12 match losing run that they are desperate to halt. The visitors have a good record on their travels and will not want to be the side that gives Harwich their first home win. It is difficult to see beyond and away win here but, The Royals have not won in their last four outings and have not picked up a win on the road since Mid-October.

Norwich United (18th) v CRC (2nd)

NORWICH have been playing better than their league position suggests but have seen points slip away and have now picked up just one win in their last nine games. They face a tough game here against a side sitting just behind the leaders with games in hand. One defeat and three draws in 20 games played speaks for itself although one of those draws was last week. CRC with 38 goals on the road have only failed to score on one occasion.

Stanway Rovers (4th) v Needham Market (1st)

THIS week's match of the day as Stanway try to close the gap between themselves and the top three. Needham dropped two home points in midweek when they played out a 0-0 draw at Bloomfields but have an impressive away record and will be looking to add to it here. Stanway know they cannot afford to slip up home or away and this could be a game worth watching.

Walsham-le-Willows (14th) v Hadleigh (15th)

THIS looks a mid-table, mid-season affair but both sides will have ambition to win this, they have identical playing records and a couple of wins for either side could see them rise several places up the table so both will feel this is an important pre-Christmas game.

Woodbridge Town (19th) v Newmarket Town (12th)

THE home side's record at Notcutts Park shows no points from the 11 games played and they may see this fixture as an opportunity to get themselves on the board against a side that have lost six of their nine away games. The Jockeys have been inconsistent this season but have lost just once in their last five so will be looking for something from this game.

Wroxham (9th) v Wisbech Town (8th)

THE hosts held leaders Needham to a draw at Bloomfields on Tuesday but have found it difficult to string positive results together this season, they are always a hard side to beat and winning their games in hand could put them just behind the leading pack. The Fenmen had no such luck at Bloomfields last week as their ten-match unbeaten run was ended, but they have become a difficult side to beat this season and will make it difficult for the Yachtsmen to extend their unbeaten run to four.