RETURNING once again, 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
The last time ALTRINCHAM met Guiseley at Moss Lane was in the Conference North play-off final. Whilst there is slightly less on offer this weekend, neither side have secured fifth tier football in 2016-17. Alty are four without a win including Tuesday’s humbling at the hands of Chester whilst Guiseley are without a defeat in their last five on the road.
MACCLESFIELD TOWN are in a rut. They’ve lost their last five home matches to fellow National League clubs including Tuesday night’s 1-0 reverse at the hands of 24th placed Torquay United in the FA Trophy. Their opponents this weekend are high-flying Dover Athletic who currently occupy the final play-off spot and have won their last two games with an aggregate score of 7-0. John Askey’s men will certainly have their work cut out.
National League North
Whether they like it or not STOCKPORT COUNTY are in a relegation battle. Seven points above the dotted line but with just one win in their last 16 matches if they were to lose at Brackley Town this weekend, Jim Gannon’s men would certainly be looking over their shoulder. Kevin Wilkin’s side have lost four of their last five at St James Park, however, so this one could go either way.
Harrogate Town have the chance to employ revenge on FC UNITED OF MANCHESTER this Saturday. Just last month the Yorkshire outfit made the journey to Broadhurst Park and it was all going so well when they led 3-0 after 40 minutes. 20 minutes later they were 4-3 down and reduced to 10 men. Since that day FC have played three, lost three whilst Harrogate have played three, won three so expect Nicky Weaver’s men to start strong favourites on Saturday.
STALYBRIDGE CELTIC will expect a stern test when they welcome AFC Fylde to Bower Fold on Saturday. Fylde are up in fourth place but on their day are a match for any club. One such day was in the reverse fixture on the last day of October when Celtic made their way to Kellamergh Park and came back with their tail between their legs after a 5-0 shellacking.
CURZON ASHTON have exceeded all expectations to be sat in 12th position at this stage of the season. This Saturday they travel north-east to North Ferriby United who, whilst they are in third place are without a win in three. Expect Jon Flanagan’s men to give the Villagers a real run for their money at Grange Lane.
Evo-Stik Premier Division
When ASHTON UNITED led Rushall Olympic 2-0 last weekend their play-off place looked cemented, come full-time they’d lost 3-2 and slipped down to eighth position. This weekend provides the perfect chance to bounce back as they take on cellar-dwellers Ramsbottom United. This will be Rammy’s first home game since the December 19 as the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium was badly affected by severe flooding. They’ll look forward to returning home after six straight losses on the road.
SALFORD CITY are another side who blew a lead last weekend. They led Darlington 3-1 on home turf but walked away 4-3 losers. They’ll look to regain their stride when they travel to last season’s beaten play-off finalists Ilkeston. The Robins have underachieved this season though and languish in 14th place but they have only lost three of 15 home matches this term.
Gary Lowe’s HYDE UNITED will host a Nantwich Town side buoyed by reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy in the week. The Tigers struggles are well-publicised; they have eight straight losses in the league and if they don’t buck up their ideas could face three consecutive relegations.
Evo-Stik First Division North
This should be the weekend for RADCLIFFE BOROUGH. No home wins since October 17th and just two to their name all season but all things being equal that should change this weekend. That’s because New Mills AFC are making the trip to Stainton Park and they’ve lost 25 of their 26 league games all campaign, expect a long-awaited home win on Saturday.
DROYLSDEN have the toughest test of the weekend. They’re welcoming table-toppers Warrington Town to the Butchers Arms on Saturday, albeit minus the recently-departed Shaun Reid. Dave Pace’s side are shipping goals at an alarming rate of late. Last Saturday’s 8-0 loss at Northwich was followed on Monday night with an 8-2 defeat at Brighouse Town. They’ll need to tighten up or Warrington will fancy their chances of something similar.
If MOSSLEY AFC are to gain promotion they’ll need to beat some good sides, and there aren’t many better at this level than Northwich Victoria. The Lilywhites sit just one point outside the play-off zone, the same zone that the Cheshire side top. Northwich have suffered defeat just twice in 17 either side of Jim Gannon’s departure whilst Mossley have five wins from six, something’s got to give.
And finally, TRAFFORD in 11th will travel to Lancaster City in eighth. Both sides have 11 league wins to their name in 2015-16 and so this one is the toss of a coin, expect a goal either way at the Giant Axe on Saturday afternoon.
By Jordan Davies
@jordandavies09
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