Something For The Weekend: National League North

There should be a full fixture list in the Vanarama National League North on Saturday and there are some vital games.

Here's three encounters to keep an eye on…..

Stockport County v Brackley Town

These two teams meet for the fourth time this season, with County eager for revenge on two counts – for losing by the odd goal in five at St James Park in December in the league and for being knocked out of the Buildbase FA Trophy at the quarter-final stage on Tuesday, also in Northamptonshire following a 1-1 draw at Edgeley Park.

Barring some weird results, Kevin Wilkin's side look assured of a play-off place already, starting Saturday's game in Cheshire 13 points in front of eighth-placed Chorley, but they will be keen to finish as high as possible to give themselves a favourable draw in the end-of-season games.

Stockport, meanwhile, lost their last league encounter – 1-0 at home to Nuneaton Town – and will be eager to get their top seven challenge back on track. They currently trail seventh-placed Spennymoor Town by five points and have six of their last ten games at home in front of their excellent and loyal support.

AFC Telford United v Spennymoor Town

While Stockport will be pushing for a top seven spot, Spennymoor will be one of the teams eager to prevent them from doing so. Their trip to the New Bucks Head is a 'six-pointer' for both sides, and curiously, Moors' last league game was also a 1-0 home defeat to Nuneaton back on February 17th!

Since then they have shared a 0-0 draw with National League side Bromley in the Trophy quarter-finals, but boss Jason Ainsley will make sure his players are firmly focused on Saturday ahead of their home replay with the Ravens next Tuesday.

As for Rob Edwards' Bucks, they gained a bit of confidence with a midweek hammering of Market Drayton Town in the Shropshire Senior Cup semi-final but are currently three points behind fourth-bottom Tamworth and have two games in hand, so will be in desperate need of the points on Saturday.

Gainsborough Trinity v Kidderminster Harriers

This battle at the Northolme is very similar to the game at the New Bucks Head as it pairs relegation-threatened Gainsborough at home against play-off chasing Kidderminster.

Trinity's need is even greater than the Bucks, however, as they trail the Lambs by six points but, like Telford, also possess two games in hand on the teams just outside the drop zone. New Trinity boss Lee Sinnott has had a bit of time to work with his players, having only had the one game at Chorley on February 17th since his arrival, and a few new players have come through the door since then.

Harriers travel to Lincolnshire in sixth spot, four points in front of eighth-placed Chorley, but John Eustace's side have lost their last two games at home to title-chasing Harrogate Town and at Darlington, so will be keen to get back on the winning trail as the run-in towards the end of the season begins.

Saturday's fixtures:-

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