uhlsport HAMPSHIRE PREMIER LEAGUE

Just the rain to contend with this time as we have a mixture of cup and league games scheduled. In the Senior Division, the top two will be looking to get back on track after losing last week. Leaders Crofton Saints have a big game as they travel to third-placed AFC Shirley, only a point behind with a game in hand.  Second-placed Locks Heath, after their superb midweek win at US Portsmouth, are at home to Stockbridge, who have moved out of the bottom two after successive wins. Hook, in fourth, travel to Sholing to play Hedge End Rangers, who are in decent form and are looking to challenge for a top 5 place. Two teams currently in the bottom five, but with games in hand, have home games against teams above them: Meon Milton play Broughton, and Southsea Sports play sixth-placed Denmead. Liss Athletic, still in seventh, will be looking to end a poor run as they host Bishops Waltham Dynamos. Division One saw the top two draw last weekend; they are in action again this time, leaders Overton United are at Nursling & Shirley, and AFC Netley are at home to Mob Albion, who have just had five consecutive home defeats in the league. Hedge End Town have moved into third and face a trip to improving Sway, who have moved into sixth on the back for four wins in five. BTC, in fifth, have games in hand on those above them and have a tricky game at Rushmoor Community. Further down the table there are two matches involving teams in the bottom six; bottom club Paulsgrove entertain Headley United, who haven't played a league game since the end of November, and Whiteley Wanderers, three wins in the last four, play out-of-form Hayling United. The outstanding Hampshire Saturday Trophy game between Andover Town and Follands 'A' from the Southampton League has now been reversed to Follands. We have a local derby in the Aldershot Intermediate Cup as Liphook United host Whitehill & Bordon. There are also two ties in the North Hampshire Intermediate Cup as Twentyten host Amesbury Town Res, and Silchester Village host Bramley United U23.

Only a couple of cup games scheduled for this weekend, so the focus is back on the league, with both divisions having pretty full programmes. One Hampshire Saturday Trophy match is scheduled after being called off last weekend, Andover Town hosting a useful-looking Follands 'A' team from the Southampton League. In the Portsmouth Senior Cup, Hayling United face a big trip to Isthmian South Central side AFC Portchester. Portchester's original opponents Leatherhead have an FA Trophy match. In the Senior Division, leaders Crofton Saints face a tough trip to in-form Moneyfields Res, who have risen to sixth after one league defeat in eight, some good victories amongst them. Locks Heath are only a point behind Saints with two games in hand and also face a tricky trip to Whitehill & Bordon. Hook, a point behind Locks, host mid-table Bishops Waltham Dynamos, and, just behind them in fourth, AFC Shirley are at second-bottom Liphook United. Further down the table, Stockbridge are now out of the bottom three and will be looking for their third victory in a row as they host Southsea Sports, with whom they are now level on points. Meon Milton are now third from bottom and have a trip to Denmead, who are fifth but are rather inconsistent. Liss Athletic are seventh but haven't won in their last six league and cup games, they travel to Broughton who haven't won in three. In Division One, the top two are only separated by goal difference and they meet on Saturday as AFC Netley host leaders Overton United. Third-placed Silchester Village host improving Whiteley Wanderers, and fourth-placed Hedge End Town travel to Mob Albion, who have lost four league games in a row. BTC Southampton, in fifth, have games in hand on those above them and they host mid-table Rushmoor Community, and Nursling & Shirley in sixth head to another improving team, Sway.  Finally, we have a bottom-three clash as Twentyten play their first game for over a month as they host bottom club Paulsgrove, who are on a five-game losing streak.