08.04.23 – Local Non League Football

08.04.23 – Local Non League Football

By Dave Johnson

Newcastle Town v Mossley

Newcastle face a tough fixture against Mossley on Saturday, desperate to add to their points total if they are to avoid dropping into the bottom four of the table.

The two sides directly below Castle in the table, Colne and Widnes, play each other on Saturday and unless that game finishes all square, a defeat for Newcastle would see them drop to 17^th place.

With a game against second placed Leek Town coming up on Easter Monday, things are not looking too good for Robin van der Laan’s side right now.

Next weekend they are at home to Trafford in their penultimate game of the season – unlike Mossley, they look extremely unlikely to be fighting it out in the end-of-season play-offs, but it is still a tricky fixture.

Remaining Fixtures:

Leek Town (A)

TRAFFORD (H)

Ramsbottom United (A)

Glossop North End v Kidsgrove Athletic

Kidsgrove have very little chance of getting into the play-offs now, but while it remains mathematically possible they still have to give everything they’ve got.

On paper at least, their trip to Glossop on Saturday looks like it is one where they can return with maximum points, though North End are scrapping for points for a different reason.

Second from bottom, they are not definitely doomed just yet, but a defeat in this one would make survival increasingly unlikely.

Kidsgrove still have to face two top five sides, Workington and Clitheroe, in their run-in, with a home fixture against struggling Widnes sandwiched in between.

Remaining Fixtures:

WORKINGTON (H)

WIDNES (H)

Clitheroe (A)

Skelmersdale v Hanley Town

Despite some decent results of late – Hanley have won their last three and are unbeaten in four, they haven’t yet escaped the threat of relegation and things promise to be tense between now and the end of the season.

They could certainly do with a positive result at Skelmersdale this weekend ahead of the Monday fixture against a Macclesfield side who were crowned champions last weekend.

Just like Newcastle Town, Hanley could be dragged back into the bottom four should they get nothing from this game, and there is a winner between Colne and Widnes.

It goes without saying that Macclesfield won’t want their crown to slip between now and the end of the season, and with Witton Albion, next Saturday’s opponents, still in with a chance of the play-offs, Hanley have a difficult run-in.

Remaining Fixtures:

MACCLESFIELD (H)

WITTON ALBION (H)

Prescot Cables (A)

Ramsbottom United v Leek Town

Already relegated, Ramsbottom recorded a rare win in midweek with the 2-1 home win against 1874 Northwich, and now the pressure is off, they will be looking to cause problems for Leek Town this weekend.

Leek have slipped up lately and last weekend’s loss against Clitheroe would have seen them lose second spot, had third placed Workington have avoided defeat themselves – they were beaten by struggling Widnes.

Lekk will want to make sure of the three points in this one as they seek to finish the season in second, where they have sat for most of the season as they look to gain home advantage when the play-offs kick off.

They will be confident going into Monday’s fixture at home to Newcastle Town, before winding up their league campaign with a trip to Colne and a home fixture against Skelmersdale.

Remaining Fixtures:

NEWCASTLE TOWN (H)

Colne (A)

SKELMERSDALE (H)

Macclesfield v City of Liverpool

Crowned as champions last weekend, Macclesfield will still feel they have something to prove and will be looking for maximum return from their four remaining fixtures.

First up is the visit of City of Liverpool, who, with former full time pro Kevin Ellison in their line-up will be keen to make an impression at the Moss Rose.

But Macclesfield will want to go out with a bang. They will expect to win this one and then there is the little matter of a game at struggling Hanley Town on Monday.

Hanley have won three on the bounce and will be desperate to add to their total and avoid dropping back into the bottom four places – Macclesfield could prove a bit too much for the Potteries Park side.

Remaining Fixtures:

Hanley Town (A)

PRESCOT CABLES (HOME)

 Mossley (A)

Kendal Town v Congleton Town

For the second consecutive weekend, Congleton play semi-final football when they take on Kendal Town in the Macron Cup, looking to go one better than they did last weekend against Newport Pagnall Town.

Despite holding holders of the FA Vase to a 2-2 draw at the Cleric Stadium, the Bears finally went out of the competition when they were beaten 3-2 on penalties.

It could be argued that Congleton’s success in Cup competitions has somewhat hindered their progress in the league. But there is no doubt it has still been a successful season.

Last time the Bears travelled to Kendal they were beaten 2-1 in late November, but in the return match a month ago, it was Congleton who had the upper hand, winning the game 3-1.

Remaining Fixtures:

NORTHWICH VICTORIA (H)

Charnock Richard (A)

WYTHENSHAW TOWN (H)

CREW AFC (Cheshire Cup) (H)

AFC Liverpool (A)

LONGBRIDGE TOWN (H)

Stafford Rangers v Whitby Town

If you take a look at the maths, Stafford are still not certain of avoiding the drop and they could do with coming out on top against a Whitby side who are one place and one point better off than themselves in the league table.

A win on Saturday ahead of Monday’s big clash against Nantwich Town could see them safe, should results elsewhere go their way, and their fate is in their own hands.

Stafford’s Easter Monday clash against Nantwich could be insignificant, for Rangers at least, but they will want to finish the season on a high anyway.

After Monday, they make the trip to face FC United of Manchester next weekend, before their final home fixture against champions elect South Shield.

Remaining Fixtures:

Nantwich Town (A)

FC United of Manchester (A)

SOUTH SHIELDS (H)

South Shields v Nantwich Town

Nantwich still have it all to do if they are to retain their place in the Premier Division and Saturday’s fixture away to South Shields is one where they are not expected to get anything.

South Shields have not sewn up top spot yet and will want to finish off the season strongly in order to claim automatic promotion.

Nantwich will perhaps be a little cautious, hoping to avoid any injuries that could scupper their chances of a win in Monday’s big game against Stafford.

Anything they get against South Shields won’t guarantee they avoid an end-of-season scrap, but it would certainly be a bog help ahead of their remaining three games.

Remaining Fixtures:

STAFFORD RANGERS (H)

Marske United (A)

Radcliffe (A)