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Saturday football preview

FOLKESTONE INVICTA face a big day on Saturday when they play host to AFC Wimbledon, the best-supported club below Conference level, in the Ryman League Premier Division.

AFC Wimbledon was created in 2002 by supporters of the Football League club Wimbledon which had been re-located to Milton Keynes. The club soon attracted a huge following by non-league standards as it entered the Combined Counties League, finishing third in the 2002-03 season.

The next season saw the club remain unbeaten in the league as they finished as champions, winning 42 games and drawing four, recording 130 points and a goal difference of +148.

The club returned to the Ryman League in the summer of 2004 and finished as Division One champions in their first attempt last season.

The gate of 3,005 when AFC Wimbledon beat Invicta 4-1 at The Fan’s Stadium, Kingsmeadow, on the opening day of the season was the biggest in the Ryman League so far this season.

Also in the Ryman League Premier Division, Margate, who find themselves in the bottom six, travel to Maldon Town while Bromley make the trip to Chelmsford City.

Dover Athletic manager Clive Walker is baffled by the club's run of form which has earned his side just one win from their last seven games.

Whites started the season with eight successive wins, kicking off with a 2-1 home success over Dulwich Hamlet, where they travel for Saturday’s next challenge in Ryman League Division 1.

Walker said: "I can’t say that anything in particular has gone wrong. I wish I knew what the problem was."

Dover have slipped to sixth and, although they have games in hand over the promotion rivals above them, need to halt the slide soon.

Dulwich are two places and eight points behind, and Walker, who expects to have a full squad available, said: "They are a good team, like all the sides in this league.

"I do have a few options to make changes to the team but I don’t know whether or not I will stick with the same side."

Ashford Town will hope to ride the crest of the major lift they got with Monday's derby win over Dover and continue that form into the match against Metropolitan Police at Homelands.

Adrian Stone, a favourite with the crowd with his pace, made a great return to the club with a goal on his debut and Town will be aiming to built on that threat.

Although he came off with an injury on Monday, Stone is likely to be fit to play but keeper Dave Wietecha is still doubtful.

Ramsgate, who have games in hand on most of the teams around them in the league, face Burgess Hill Town at Southwood, while Cray Wanderers host Lymington & New Milton.

Chatham Town boss Steve Binks is expecting a tough game when Waltham Forest are the visitors on Saturday.

Although Forest are just one point and two places below them in the Southern League Division 1 East table, the London side are not on the best of runs, having not tasted victory since mid-November.

But Binks said: "I have heard they are a young, fit, good footballing side. However, we are capable of playing quality football and are looking forward to an entertaining, if tough, game."

Dartford entertain Arlesey Town at Stonebridge Road with manager Tony Burman expecting a tricky test as he aims to maintain the club’s impressive home form.

He said: "We’ve done okay at home and haven’t lost in the league and long may it continue.

"Arlesey are just below us and it will be a difficult game. We’re at home and we’re going to have to take the game to them and hope for the best.

"If we play like we did against Sittingbourne then the chances will eventually go in."

The two sides met on the opening day of the season, with Ryan Hayes hitting a 51st-minute winner against the Bedfordshire side.

Burman added: "They were above us for a while and have dug in like us. They’ve lost their last two games but are a good side and have spent some money on players."

In the same division, Sittingbourne face ninth-placed Barton Rovers at Bourne Park.

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