For entirely different reasons, Billericay Town and Canvey Island will be anxious to record home wins in the Premier Division on Saturday afternoon.

While Gulls, desperately searching for consistency, host third from bottom Aylesbury looking for maximum points to boost their bid for a top three position, Billericay stage the local game of the day when leaders Dagenham and Redbridge come to New Lodge.

Town manager Gary Calder, who's seen his side lose six of their last eight games on home territory, knows a win tomorrow will give his side a tremendous kick-start to the second half of the season. They currently stand ninth.

Calder, who at one stage seemed to have sorted out problems when his team won three away games on the trot, is in the midst of rebuilding after a desperately poor run of four straight defeats.

That sequence, at least, ended when Town drew 1-1 at bottom club Harrow Borough in the New Year Bank Holiday game, and the Billericay boss is hopeful of having one, or possibly two, new faces in his line-up on Saturday.

Another bonus should be the return of former Sutton striker Colin Simpson, whose goalscoring prowess has been sadly missed during a lengthier than expected absence with hamstring trouble. He came on as a late substitute at Harrow and experienced no problems.

Daggers responded to their Christmas defeat at Canvey - only their second in the League all season - with a hard-fought home win over the Premier's most improved side, Gravesend, on Monday.

The three points were enough to see Gary Hill's men move eight points clear at the top and, with nearest rivals St Albans having parted company with manager Bob Dowie this week, it's difficult to see any side catching them.

Gulls, currently fifth, are one club capable of it - but they've given away too many silly points. Last week was a perfect example when they went to lowly Boreham Wood on the back of that great Dagenham result and lost 3-2.

Said Canvey coach Glenn Pennyfather: "We had players struggling with flu on the day, but the big difference is that the Dagenhams of this world will still go out and get a result in such circumstances.

"When you're leading the table like that everyone wants to raise their game and have a go at you and it's like a cup final every week. Still, it's our first season at this level and very much a learning process."

Although third from bottom, Aylesbury have been showing improved form recently and the return of star player Gary Crawshaw from injury has been a major boost.

With striker Steve Parmenter still a couple of weeks from fitness, and Garry Britnell out with a calf injury, there are extra problems for Gulls tomorrow. Micky Bennett is struggling with a thigh strain and skipper Steve Tilson is battling to overcome a nasty attack of flu.

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