Something For The Weekend: National League North

And there are some intriguing matches involving either end of the table.

Salford City v Harrogate Town

No doubting where the stand-out fixture is – at the Peninsula Stadium where leaders Salford entertain second-placed Harrogate.

The Ammies currently hold an eight-point advantage over their opponents from over the Pennines, but Town do possess a game in hand, so the result on Saturday is crucial.

Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley`s side have drawn two and won two of their last four games in the league, while Simon Weaver`s visitors lost their last league outing at lowly Nuneaton Town, but have been buoyed by an emphatic 5-0 Trophy replay victory over National League South play-off chasers St Albans City on Tuesday night.

AFC Telford United v Nuneaton Town

Salford`s last outing was a comfortable 3-0 home win over fourth-bottom AFC Telford, and since then, the Bucks have suffered another beating, losing 5-3 at the New Bucks Head to play-off chasing York City on Tuesday night.

And Saturday sees Rob Edwards` side face an early `six-pointer` at home to fellow strugglers Nuneaton Town.

Boro may be five places above fourth-bottom Telford in the table, but only two points separate the sides, with the Bucks having a couple of games in hand on most of their bottom-half rivals.

Dino Maamria`s Nuneaton outfit at least go into the game in reasonable form, having won another relegation encounter at Gainsborough Trinity last weekend after a fine 2-1 success at home to promotion-chasing Harrogate the previous midweek.

Darlington v Chorley

When Tommy Wright made the switch from Nuneaton to take the hot-seat at Darlington in early December, few would have predicted that the Quakers would win only one game to date and be third-bottom, a point behind Telford, having played two more games.

The natives will no doubt become a little restless if this slide isn`t halted soon, despite Wright`s popularity as a former player favourite.

Saturday sees the Quakers host a play-off chasing Chorley side who also hit the buffers in recent weeks before a 2-0 success against Curzon Ashton last Saturday put Matt Jansen`s side back on track.

Darlington`s last victory was a terrific Boxing Day success against Harrogate, but since then, Wright`s men have lost two and then shared a 1-1 draw at the Impact Arena with fellow strugglers Alfreton Town where both teams finished with ten-men.

Saturday`s games…..

AFC Telford United v Nuneaton Town

Alfreton Town v Leamington

Blyth Spartans v FC United of Manchester

Bradford Park Avenue v Gainsborough Trinity

Curzon Ashton v Kidderminster Harriers

Darlington v Chorley

North Ferriby United v Boston United

Salford City v Harrogate Town

Southport v Stockport County

Tamworth v Brackley Town

York City v Spennymoor Town