Saturday Preview: National League North

Issue at both the top and bottom of the league is to be looked at, with the games taking place this Saturday, writes Tom Feaheny.

Salford City have lost just twice in the league this season and one of those defeats was against Darlington in the opening game of the season, Tommy Wright's made several changes in recent weeks with the playing squad, with plenty expected to watch these two sides who have plenty of history against each other.

It looked like the return to the starting line-up had brought Harrogate Town an important win but they conceded right at the end to only draw at home to Kidderminster Harriers, Simon Weaver's side know they must get back to winning ways to keep some pressure on Salford City, Nuneaton Town are three unbeaten in the league but still sit in the last relegation place though a win could move them as high as 14th.

Two sides who have the feel good factor face each other as FC United of Manchester who last week gained an impressive win with Tom Greaves scoring his 100th goal for the club and they moved further from the relegation zone, Brackley Town are keeping up their push for promotion as they keep on winning with Kevin Wilkin delighted with the performances his side are showing as well.

Spennymoor Town didn't play last weekend due to the weather meaning their match had to be postponed due to snow, it gave them a week off from competitive league action, despite not playing they remained fifth in the table, they face Jim Gannon's Stockport County who last weekend lost in a narrow 3-2 defeat, County are despite being 11th just six points away from the drop zone but they will be looking up knowing there is a five point gap from seventh.

York City were left disappointed after an away loss last weekend and that saw them fall out of the play-off places, they will be aiming to gain some revenge after losing to AFC Telford United at Bootham Crescent earlier in the season, Rob Edwards side won their previous game and are just four points off the Minstermen.

Blyth Spartans pushed the league leaders all the way last weekend and will want to get a home win under their belt after last week's loss, they are still well placed in the play-off places, they take on an Alfreton Town side who are looking to get back to winning ways after being defeated last weekend, they know a good run can push them into the play-off places.

It was a big first win for Craig Elliott as Boston United boss, he knew the importance of it, as they sit just two points off getting out of the relegation zone and they are four points away from opponents Southport, who under Kevin Davies were moments away from a vital win but conceded in added time.

Mark Bower's Bradford Park Avenue keep on winning with their impressive run continuing for a side who are doing better than expected as they sit in the play-off places, they face Andy Morrell's Tamworth who gained a late point last weekend, he said he hopes this can be a turning point as they look to get back to winning ways.

Chorley gained a home victory last time around as they aim to make it back to backs win in a week, Kidderminster Harriers are their opponents and a late draw in mid-week will have felt like a victory for John Eustace's side.

Both Leamington and Gainsborough Trinity have won one of their last three matches, with the two teams outside the relegation places and just a point separating the pair, they have very similar records so far this campaign, the Brakes lost to Chorley last weekend while Trinity were defeated at Kidderminster Harriers.

The new era at North Ferriby United may have started with a loss, but manager Chris Bolder believed their were many positives they could take from their performance, they sit bottom of the table with just a single win all season, they take on Curzon Ashton who have drawn their last two matches and sit six points off the play-off places but also five points away from the drop zone, it shows how competitive this league has been this season.

AFC Telford United V York City
Blyth Spartans V Alfreton Town
Boston United V Southport
Bradford Park Avenue V Tamworth
Chorley V Kidderminster Harriers
Darlington V Salford City
FC United of Manchester V Brackley Town
Leamington V Gainsborough Trinity
North Ferriby United V Curzon Ashton
Nuneaton Town V Harrogate Town
Stockport County V Spennymoor Town