Local Non League Football – 18.03.23

Local Non League Football – 18.03.23

By Dave Johnson

Colne v Newcastle Town

It’s a big weekend ahead for Newcastle Town as they travel to Colne to face a side who, with a win, can close the gap between the two sides to two points.

Colne also have a game in hand, which, if Castle fail to come away with a positive result it will give them a slight advantage as the two clubs fight to avoid the drop.

Newcastle have been dragged into the mire in recent weeks and now is the time to put a decent run together if they are to avoid being in real trouble.

Colne are unbeaten in their last seven home fixtures, while Newcastle have lost three of their last four away games. With seven games remaining, now would be a nice time to improve those stats.

Kidsgrove Athletic v Ramsbottom United

Despite the fixtures gradually winding down, Kidsgrove could still claim a play-off place, but to do that they have to make up a five-point gap between themselves and the team sitting in fifth spot.

On paper, Saturday’s fixture is an ideal chance to pick up three important points, but it doesn’t always work out like it looks on paper.

Saturday’s visitors Ramsbottom sit bottom of the league, ten points behind Hanley Town, who currently occupy the place directly above them and their chance of avoiding the drop look extremely tenious.

Grove are unbeaten in their last four away games, drawing tee of them and winning one, but they could really do with extending that run with a victory as each game becomes more and more important.

Hanley Town v Bootle

Hanley are now unbeaten in eight home fixtures, but with only one win in that impressive run, they need to improve if they are to pull away from the league’s basement.

Single points, whilst infinitely better than a loss, are not much use if the side who are next to bottom are to lift themselves away from danger.

Bootle haven’t won in any of their last three games, but away from home they have lost just two of their last nine and are guaranteed to pose a threat this weekend.

There are nine points between the two sides, but Hanley have scored two fewer goals and conceded five more than Bootle – hopefully both stats will be more favourable to Hanley after the weekend.

Macclesfield v Runcorn Linnets

Despite Runcorn being just three places below Macclesfield in the table there wouldn’t be many takers if odds were t0 be offered on a Linnets win away to Macclesfield this weekend.

Despite their lofty league position, along with the fact they went away from Harrison Park with all three points when they beat Leek Town in their own back yard back in early December, Macclesfield are another prospect.

Ten points clear at the top of the table with just seven games to play, The Silkmen are not quite there yet, but it’s difficult to see how they are going to throw things away.

If things carry on as they are, Macclesfield could well be celebrating promotion at the Potteries Park, where they take on Hanley Town on Easter Monday, or earlier thsn that should Leek Town drop points before that.

Padiham v Congleton Town

With six consecutive wins under their belts, , including last weekend’s superb FA Trophy win to put them into the semi-finals of the competition against holders Newport Pagnell Town, the Bears will be eager to stretch that impressive run.

This weekend they travel to the Ruby Civil Arena to face Padiham – Congleton’s second game in three days following a 2-1 win away to Lower Breck on Thursday evening.

A hectic fixture schedule, brought on by their success in cup competitions means Congleton play Thursday, Saturday, Tuesday this week and they will be hoping to avoid any injuries such a schedule might bring with it.

Saturday’s opponents Padiham are one place below them in the table, though with twelve fewer points than the Bears, having played two more games, the table is a little misleading.

Liversedge v Stafford Rangers

Nine points clear of the danger zone, Stafford have seven games remaining to add to their total and stay clear and hopefully they can get maximum return from their game against Liversedge this weekend.

With Saturday’s opponents currently second bottom in the table, a Stafford win could also help Nantwich who are attempting to move out of the bottom four.

When the two sides met at Martson Road back in early October, Rangers were riding high in the league and a Kurt Harris own goal and a Tom Tonks goal saw them record a 2-0 win.

After six consecutive away defeats, Stafford managed all three points at Stalybridge Celtic recently, before losing out at Bamber Bridge last weekend – three points this weekend would be more than welcome.

Gainsborough Trinity v Nantwich Town

Time is running out for Nantwich as the fixtures are ticked off. All three teams below them in the table having games in hand, but it is far from a lost cause.

|The Dabbers have seven games left to make their mark and to save their season, starting with a difficult game against Gainsborough Trinity on Saturday.

It isn’t just Nantwich who will be going all out for a win on Saturday as Trinity have a realistic chance of sewing up a play-off place at the end of the season.

Sitting just one point away from a play-off place and with fourth placed Warrington Town, also a point ahead of Trinity due to face Radcliife in second place, a win against Nantwich could see them back in the top five this weekend.