Weekend Non League Local Football – 07.01.22
Written by Hitmix Local News on 6 January 2023
Weekend Non League Local Football – 07.01.22
By Dave Johnson
Newcastle Town v Hanley Town
It is important Newcastle do all they can to benefit from home advantage when they take on a Hanley side only two points below them in the table.
An unthinkable defeat to a side who have done so well on their travels this season is unthinkable, but recent form doesn’t bode too well for Robin van der Laan’s side.
Three points from 21 hardly installs confidence, but they will be dragged into a basement battle if they don’t start to improve sooner rather than later.
But with two points from 18, Hanley’s form has also dipped and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top in this one – there is everything to play for.
1874 Northwich v Kidsgrove Athletic.
Kidsgrove’s return of one point from their two games over the festive period and the fact they didn’t manage a single goal is something they have to rectify quite soon if they are going to continue to challenge for a lay-off place.
This weekend they face a Northwich side who have lost their last four games and who have recorded just one win in nine and must see this as an opportunity.
Prior to Christmas, Kidsgrove had won five from six games and they must look to return to that kind of form if they are to prosper this season.
With a difficult home game against Macclesfield on the horizon, it is imperative they go for maximum points ahead of that game if they are to keep up their challenge.
Macclesfield v Leek Town
There can be no doubting the match of the weekend in the Northern Premier League West Division when first take on second at the Moss Rose.
Macclesfield and Leek Town have each won their last three games and have similar records over their last ten, it really could turn out to be a belter of a game.
Leek will be looking to avenge their home defeat to the Silkmen back in August, one of only two league defeats for Neil Baker’s side this season.
A win for Leek would see them two points behind this week’s opposition with a game in hand, a win for Macclesfield and it might be too much to make up.
Prestwich Heys v Congleton Town
Back on the road following their 3-0 win against Stockport Town in the Cheshire Senior Cup on Tuesday Congleton will be looking for a fifth win in a row when they face Prestwich Heys.
Former Port Vale striker was on the mark twice in that game and he will be the main threat to a Prestwich side who beat Lower Breck 1-0 in their last fixture on Boxing Day.
When the two sides met at the Cleric Stadium in late October it was the Bears who took the points, courtesy of a single goal scored by Richard Duffy.
It looks like it could be a close-fought game, with a glance at the league table revealing there is very little separating the two sides – in fact just two points. A Prestwich win would see them leapfrog Congleton.
Stafford Rangers v Gainsborough Trinity
Stafford must overcome third placed Gainsborough Trinity if they are to get back on track after an indifferent run of form, but at home things haven’t been too bad.
Admittedly they have lost two of their last four at Marston Road, but prior to that they had gone five unbeaten on home soil.
In a really tight table with just two points separating the six sides directly below the play-off places, Rangers are just three points behind fifth placed Warrington Rylands, so they still have everything to play for in the second hal of the season.
Saturday’s visitors sit third in the table and it is their away form that has helped them get there. With just three wins on home soil, they have won seven and drawn three of their eleven away fixtures.
Guisley v Nantwich Town
Nantwich need to get back on track after their recent dip in form has seen them drop back into the bottom four after a promising run off results.
Following an unbeaten run which saw them win four and draw one from five league fixtures, they have picked up one point from their last two games.
With a trip to Guisley ahead of them, the Dabbers will be looking to reverse the result from when the two sides met at the Swansway Stadium back in August when Lewis Hey netted in the 90th minute to earn his side the points.
After two home defeats in a row at their Nethermoor Park ground, they recently turned things round with two wins, beating Morpeth Town and Atherton Collieries, but with five home defeats so far, Nantwich will believe they are in with a chance.
