BACK for another week, our Football LIVE fixture lowdown is where we mark your card on all of this weekend’s fixtures for our non-league sides. All of these games kick-off at 15:00 on Saturday afternoon.
National League
After a spirited 3-3 draw at Torquay in the week MACCLESFIELD TOWN will hope to reignite their play-off push with a win at 23rd placed Kidderminster Harriers. The Aggborough men have had a torrid time of it this season but come into the match on the back of consecutive wins for the first time all season. The Silkmen have, however, won five of their last seven away in the league.
Lee Sinnott’s ALTRINCHAM are just four points above the dotted line in the National League but are undefeated in three. They are however without a clean sheet in their last 12 games which could prove problematic as ninth-placed Lincoln City make the trip to Moss Lane on Saturday. The Imps thrashed promotion-chasing Eastleigh 3-0 last week.
National League North
You are guaranteed goals with FC UNITED OF MANCHESTER at the moment. Their last four results are a 4-0 loss, a 6-1 win, a 4-3 win (from three goals behind) and in midweek a 5-1 loss at the hands of AFC Telford United in which they used three different goalkeepers. This Saturday they take on Alfreton Town who are undefeated since Christmas. Expect goals at Broadhurst Park.
Following last week’s postponement against Hednesford Town, Jim Gannon’s wait for a home match in his third spell as STOCKPORT COUNTY manager goes on. This week he takes his troops to Bradford Park Avenue who lie just three points above the relegation zone but with a mammoth six games in hand on some of their rivals. This one could go either way.
Barring a miracle, or a capitulation, STALYBRIDGE CELTIC won’t be anywhere but mid-table from here to the end of the season. Marooned in 14th they travel to third-placed Boston United on Saturday. Liam Watson’s men ended a six game winless streak against Lowestoft Town last time out but will have their work cut out against a Pilgrims side with real promotion credentials.
Evo-Stik Premier Division
There’s a huge clash between SALFORD CITY and Darlington at Moor Lane this weekend, so much so that the match has been declared ‘all-ticket’. There is bad blood between the sides after a feisty affair last year which saw two red cards and much in the way of crowd trouble, and given that both sides carry hopes of a consecutive promotion, expect fireworks on Saturday afternoon.
ASHTON UNITED will have their work cut out against in-form Rushall Olympic. The Pics had a great January collecting 14 points from a possible 18 and now sit on the fringes of the play-off places. The Robins still occupy fifth place but are yet to taste defeat on home soil in 11 games; something has to give at Hurst Cross.
HYDE UNITED are really struggling. Seven straight league losses will have fans looking down rather than up, and it won’t get any easier this weekend as they make the trip to Leicestershire to take on sixth placed Barwell. The Tigers will take heart from the fact they defeated Jimmy Ginnelly’s troops at Ewen Fields in October.
Evo-Stik First Division North
Dave Pace’s DROYLSDEN have both scored and conceded in each of their last 18 league games. That record will be put to the test on Saturday when they make the journey to second placed Northwich Victoria, The Vics won the reverse fixture 6-1 at the Butchers Arms in September so the Bloods will be up against it in Cheshire.
MOSSLEY look odds-on certainties for three points this weekend. The reason? They head to a New Mills side with just one point to their name all campaign. With at least 11 teams all harbouring realistic promotion hopes the ninth placed Whites should be able to make up some ground on Saturday afternoon at Church Lane.
Thirteenth place is about right for TRAFFORD this season. Ten wins and 12 defeats tells you that step four is exactly their level. The visitors to Shawe View are Burscough, the promotion-chasing Merseysiders are fifth and won the reverse fixture 4-1 on home soil so it could be a tough afternoon for Tom Baker’s side.
And finally RADCLIFFE BOROUGH with five wins all season head to an Ossett Town side with just four. These are the two teams who sit directly above the relegation zone so it is the proverbial six-pointer. Interestingly, Town sacked manager Graham Nicholas yesterday ahead of this crunch match where the winner will take a huge step towards safety, whilst the loser will be looking nervously over their shoulders. Could be tense in West Yorkshire.
By Jordan Davies
@jordandavies09
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