FEBRUARY is almost over and the non-league calendar is likely to take even more twists and turns this weekend. Quays News sport reporter Jordan Davies is back with another Football Live fixture lowdown…
National League
MACCLESFIELD TOWN’s play-off hopes are fading fast but with two home games in a week things could be looking rosier this time next week. Saturday’s opponents are Wrexham who have won their last three games all by a 2-0 scoreline. Gary Mills’ side includes three ex-Silkmen in Rhys Taylor, Adriano Moke and Connor Jennings and all will be looking to get one over their former-employers and gain revenge for Macc’s 3-2 win in North Wales in late-November.
National League North
With his first four matches all coming away from home, Jim Gannon makes his long-awaited return to the home dugout at Edgeley Park on Saturday. His STOCKPORT COUNTY side are up against Lincolnshire’s Gainsborough Trinity whom they can leapfrog with a win. County only have two wins from their last 17 league games but one of those was last week at struggling Brackley Town (1-0).
STALYBRIDGE CELTIC manager Liam Watson welcomes one of his former sides to his current home this weekend. Watson was AFC Telford United manager during the 2013-14 season and together they won the Conference North title. Much has changed in Shropshire since then: Watson’s sacking, relegation from non-league’s top tier and now at the foot of the National League North they could do with the three points at Bower Fold.
Karl Marginson’s FC UNITED OF MANCHESTER have lost their last four and conceded 16 goals in the process. They’re also only four points clear of the relegation zone so a win at Broadhurst Park against North Ferriby United would be most welcome. The Villagers are flying high in third place but that’s mainly built on home form; the Rebels have a chance on Saturday.
CURZON ASHTON are sitting pretty in 11th in their first season at this level, whilst a third consecutive promotion looks beyond them they’ll be looking to crack the top 10 when Bradford Park Avenue head to Tameside on Saturday afternoon. BPA can be very hit and miss and have lost their last two so there is all to play for.
Evo-Stik Premier Division
Two of our sides come head-to-head as ASHTON UNITED meet HYDE UNITED at Hurst Cross this Saturday. The Robins have been stuttering of late, just two wins from six isn’t promotion form and has cost Steve Halford and Paul Phillips’ men their play-off place. As for the Tigers they ended a run of eight losses in nine games on Monday night with a 2-1 win against Whitby Town.
For the second consecutive week Ilkeston are the opponents of SALFORD CITY. Last Saturday the Derbyshire side were victorious 2-1 on home soil but the Ammies have not had to wait long for their crack at getting level. Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley’s side got back to winning ways in the week at Marine and will be hoping that can kick-start their play-off push after something of a mid-season slump.
Evo-Stik First Division North
It’s 18th versus 19th at Queensgate as Scarborough Athletic take on RADCLIFFE BOROUGH, with the sides just five and six points above the dotted line respectively neither side is totally free of relegation fears and both will have pinpointed this game as one to take points from. Borough, however, will have to eliminate all thoughts of Tuesday’s 6-1 loss to Clitheroe from their mind.
Five wins out of six has taken MOSSLEY to within four points of the play-off places. This weekend’s opponents are Bamber Bridge who have disappointed this season after being widely tipped for a promotion push but find themselves languishing in 14th. The Brig lost 2-1 to the Lilywhites in October and something similar is expected at the Sir Tom Finney stadium on Saturday.
If Clitheroe were to win their games in hand they’d find themselves in the end of season promotion shake-up. The Lancashire outfit have collected maximum points from their last four fixtures and make the relatively short trip to a TRAFFORD side this weekend that still have slim play-off hopes of their own, but cannot afford to lose more ground to a side above them in the standings.
And finally, DROYLSDEN are seven without a win, having suffered four losses on the bounce and have conceded 21 goals in their last three. They’ll need to put all of that to one side when they travel to Prescot Cables on Saturday. Fifteenth placed Cables are unbeaten in three and will be looking for revenge after they threw away a 2-1 lead in the reverse fixture to lose by the odd goal in seven at the Butchers Arms in October.
By Jordan Davies
@jordandavies09
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