Local Non League Football – 28.01.23

Local Non League Football – 28.01.23

Pre-Match by Dave Johnson

 

Workington v Newcastle Town

After finally coming out of a game with three points last weekend courtesy of a 3-1 scoreline at bottom placed Widnes, Newcastle are on the road again this weekend.

This time they face a difficult game against a Workington side handily placed just behind the top two in the table, a side who are unbeaten in eleven games.

Castle’s win at Widnes was their first in nine games and they really need to batten down the hatches at Borough Park in order to get something from the game.

Last weekend’s win against the Dragons at the Select Security Stadium could provide the lift Robin van der Laan’s side needed and will hopefully give them some belief going into this game.

Kidsgrove Athletic v Skelmersdale United

Prior to their home defeat to leaders Macclesfield in their last fixture Kidsgrove had lost two of their previous eight fixtures and they will be hoping to pick up maximum points and complete the double over Skelmersdale.

When the two sides met at Bobby Langton Way in early December it was the Grove who came out on top when goals from Kingsley Adu-Gyamfi and Ollie Jepson secured a 2-1 win.

Skelmersdale 1-0 win at Clitheroe on January 14^th, along with their Boxing Day defeat of Widnes are they only times they have picked up points from their last ten games.

Grove haven’t won in three outings, but won five of their previous six fixtures and will be reasonably confident of continuing their push for the play-offs.

Mossley v Hanley Town

Hanley have now gone eight games without a win and despite drawing their last three games they will be desperate to come away with something from Seel Park.

It will be a big ask, however, against a side whose defeat to third placed Workington earlier this week was their first in eight games and they are handily placed in fifth spot.

Fourteen-goal striker Mason Fawns is the man to watch as Hanley look to return to the away form which, only a few weeks ago, was the envy of most clubs in the league.

On the plus side, Hanley have lost just one in five, but with four draws from those five games they now need to go one better as they look to lift themselves out of the bottom four.

Runcorn Linnets v Leek Town

Only two sides have managed to beat Leek in the league this season, leaders Macclesfield, who recently completed the double over the side currently sitting in second – and this week’s opponents Runcorn Linnets.

Linnets were riding the crest of a wave when they took all three points from Harrison Park in early December, but their form has slumped since that day.

Dave Wilde’s side haven’t won in five fixtures and the point they earned at Hanley Town in their last fixture was their first in four games.

Neil Baker will be rubbing his hands at the prospect of getting some sort of revenge at the APEC Taxis Stadium as his Leek side attempt to keep up the pressure on Macclesfield at the top of the table.

Macclesfield v Colne

After somewhat surprisingly dropping two home points against Clitheroe in their last fixture, Macclesfield now face a Colne side sitting just outside the relegation places, thanks to their slightly superior goal difference.

On paper at least, this should turn out to be another three points towards thr promotion the Silkmen will surely manage to achieve this season.

Still six points clear at the top, despite dropping those two points in the week, Neil Danns’ side won five games on the bouce prior to their midweek draw at Clitheroe and are unbeaten in eight.

Colne themselves are unbeaten in six, but five of those games have finished all-square and although they would surely be content if this game finishes with the points shared, it looks unlikely.

Congleton Town v Avro

After suffering a rare home defeat early this week and slipping to seventh place in the table, Congleton face a tough trip to third placed Avro this weekend.

The Oldham based side’s form in recent games has been a bit of a mixed bag, winning two, losing two and drawing two of their last six fixtures.

As for Congleton, the defeat against Padiham on Tuesday night was their second loss in their last fourteen, so they will be keen to return to winning ways in front of their home supporters.

After having three games called off due to the adverse weather, the Bears were plunged into a heavy, congested fixture list again this week – this will be their third game in five days – let’s hope they can come out with all three points on Saturday afternoon.

Stafford Rangers v Marske United

With their play-off hopes fading by the week, Stafford take on fourth from bottom Marske United looking to put an end to a dreadful run of results.

Five consecutive defeats won’t do anything for their confidence, and despite Marske’s lowly league position, their league position doesn’t reveal all.

The North Yorkshire outfit have games in hand on every other team in the league and they only need to win a handful of those fixtures to vastly improve their position.

They are currently eight points behind Rangers, but have seven games in hand. If every team below Stafford were to win their games in hand, which admittedly is impossible as some will play each other, Matty Hill’s men would be in trouble with only bottom-of-the-table Belper Town and Nantwich being unable to overtake them.

Whitby Town v Nantwich

A 3-1 win away to basement outfit Belper Town a fortnight ago gave Nantwich a glimmer of hope – it was their only win in six – and they still have it all to do if they are to remain out of the bottom four.

To say this fixture is a six-pointer shows the importance of a positive result against the side currently third form bottom, just a single point behind the Dabbers.

Whitby have lost just two of their last seven games, but haven’t won in their last four. When the two sides met back in September at the Swansway Stadium, it was the visitors who took the three points back with them after a 2-0 win.

Boss Ritchie Sutton and his right hand man Gary Taylor Fletcher will be desperate for their side to get back to winning ways and arguably this is the ideal time to do so.