Matchday Preview: Sat 12 Apr 2014

The country will pay their respect this weekend in memory of the fans who lost their lives in the Hillsborough disaster 25 years ago. The games on Saturday will kick-off seven minutes later than usual to reflect the time when the match that day was abandoned.

Ipswich v Doncaster

SKYBET CHAMPIONSHIP
Date: Sat 12 Apr 2014   Kick-off: 15:07   Coverage: BBC Radio Suffolk, FANbase website

Ipswich host Doncaster in the Championship, as they look to build on their midweek victory over Huddersfield in their promotion search.

The Blues are two points from the play-off zone and have lost just once home game in seven.
Rovers go into the fixture on the back of two defeats, and have scored the fewest goals in the league of 11.

Previous encounter:
Ipswich won this season’s reverse fixture on Boxing Day, as they ran out 3-0 winners with a brace from McGoldrick, and a solo effort from Luke Chambers.

Team news:
Aaron Cresswell will return for Ipswich after recovering from a groin issue which he picked up during Town’s 2-0 win at Huddersfield midweek.

League positions:
8 Ipswich 41 7 61
19 Doncaster 41 -25 43


Stevenage v Colchester

SKYBET LEAGUE ONE
Date:
 Sat 12 Apr 2014   Kick-off: 15:07   Coverage: BBC Essex, FANbase Website

Colchester travel to Stevenage on Saturday, looking to ease away from the relegation zone.

The U’s are outside the relegation zone on goal difference, but Tranmere and Carlisle (below the U’s) still have a game in hand.

The hosts, who are winless in seven games currently sit rock-bottom on 39 points, four behind the U’s, and go into the match on the back of a 1-0 defeat at Shrewsbury.

Previous encounter:
The corresponding fixture on Boxing Day saw the U’s thump Stevenage 4-0, with goals from Blair Turgott, Jabo Ibehre, and a Craig Eastmond brace.

Team News:
The U’s will be missing Craig Eastmond through suspension, serving the second match from his two-match ban. Meanwhile, skipper Brian Wilson returns to the squad having completed a two game suspension.

League positions:
18 Colchester 41 -12 43
24 Stevenage 41 -21 39


Southend v Wimbledon

SKYBET LEAGUE TWO
Date: Sat 12 Apr 2014   Kick-off: 15:07   Coverage: BBC Essex, FANbase Website

Southend host Wimbledon in League Two, as the Shrimpers look to claim their fourth consecutive win following last weekend’s 2-1 win at Cheltenham.

The Blues are unbeaten in their last five fixtures, and face a Dons side who travel to Essex following three games winless.

Previous encounter:
The previous fixture saw the Blues beat ten man Wimbledon by a goal to nil, with Woodrow’s header securing the win.

Team news:
Hurst, Smith (calf) White (hamstring) and Leonard (ankle) will all be tested ahead of the fixture after picking up knocks. Boss Brown is hopeful they will be fully fit going into the fixture.

League positions
6 Southend 41 13 62
17 Wimbledon 41 -6 49

Luton v Braintree

SKRILL PREMIER
Date:
 Sat 12 Apr 2014   Kick-off: 15:07   Coverage: BT Sport 1, Three Counties Radio (online), FANbase website

Braintree will look to continue their play-off push at the hands of Luton Town, who are in the search for automatic promotion.

Braintree’s play-off push was hit after two consecutive 1-0 home defeats in the hands of Macclesfield and Salisbury City, and will have a challenging fixture against a Luton side who could win promotion with victory over the Iron.

The match is almost a sell-out with 10,000 fans expected at Kenilworth Road which can hold 10,226 fans.

Previous encounter:
The last time these sides met, Luton won 2-1 at Cressing Road, in difficult conditions, with Holman’s 67th strike supplying the Iron with a consolation goal.

Team news:
Braintree defender Ryan Peters will be tested ahead of the fixture (leg), while Kenny Davis and Sean Marks are suspended for the game.

League positions
1 Luton 42 +63 92
7 Braintree 41 +16 65

Chelmsford v Eastleigh

SKRILL SOUTH
Date:
 Sat 12 Apr 2014   Kick-off: 15:07  Coverage: Radio Clarets, FANbase website

Chelmsford will be looking to build on their 1-1 draw at Bishop’s Stortford on Thursday as they host league leaders Eastleigh.

The Hampshire based club will travel to Essex, who are unbeaten in their past five games (3W, 2D), to meet a Chelmsford side who have won once in five games.

Previous encounter:
The previous fixture last month saw Eastleigh beat Chelmsford 1-0 at the Silverlake Stadium.

Team News:
TBA

League Positions
1 Eastleigh 37 +31 79
17 Chelmsford 37 -23 42

Coverage: Radio Clarets, FANbase website

AFC Sudbury v Aveley

RYMAN DIVISION ONE NORTH
Date:
 Sat 12 Apr 2014   Kick-off: 15:07  Coverage: FANbase website, Twitter (@FANbaseBlog)

AFC Sudbury will look to make four league wins on the bounce as they host Essex based Aveley in the team’s final home game on a Saturday.

The Yellows will go into the fixture on the back of three league wins and the cup defeat to Maidstone on Tuesday night, after wins over Redbridge (A), Waltham Abbey (H), and Brentwood Town (H).

Team news:
Jamie Baker will be the only player missing from the fixture today as he continues to recover.

Previous encounter:
The two sides last met in October, and saw the ten men of the Yellows leave defeated 2-1, with Henshaw’s goal drawing the sides level but Aveley went on to win the fixture.

League positions:
9 AFC Sudbury 40 +16 67
14 Aveley 41 -2 56

AFC Sudbury Reserves v Braintree Town Reserves:

THURLOW NUNN DIVISION ONE
Date: Sat 12 Apr 2014   Kick-off: 15:07  Coverage: FANbase website


AFC Sudbury Reserves will look for their first win in eight fixtures as they travel to Cressing Road to face a Braintree Town side.

The Yellows have lost their previous seven fixtures and have conceded thirty goals during that time, including heavy 6-1 and 9-0 thumping results over the AFC side.

Previous encounter:
The previous fixture saw the Iron come from behind to claim a draw, as Philip Brown’s goal cancelled out Ryan Swallow’s original

Team news:
Steve Adams will sit out of today’s fixture to serve the final match of his suspension.