Something For The Weekend: Vanarama National League North

However, all three have significance at either end of the table.

The only one involving a side near the top end of the table could see Bradford Park Avenue move up to fifth place in the table when they take on Tamworth at the Horsfall Stadium.

Avenue were knocked out of the Trophy after a replay by Evo-Stik League Premier side Stourbridge, but head into Saturday`s game looking to make it five successive league wins, having beaten Blyth Spartans, North Ferriby United, Brackley Town and, most recently, Alfreton Town, although they were snowed off last weekend when they were originally due to take on the Lambs.

Mark Bower has done a fine job since taking the Avenue helm, and would represent a fantastic achievement if he was to lead them into the play-offs just a year after narrowly avoiding relegation.

The Lambs could join forces with seventh-placed Kidderminster Harriers on 31 points should they obtain victory at the Horsfall, but Andy Morrell`s side have won only one of their last five league games and also suffered a Trophy exit at the hands of an Evo-Stik Premier outfit in Warrington Town.

There`s a vital game at the bottom end of the table at the Jakemans Stadium where Boston United host Southport with both teams in desperate need of points heading into the busy festive period.

Both teams are under new management, with Port`s Kevin Davies gradually re-building the side whilst being mindful of picking up points to avoid suffering back-to-back relegations.

Davies` side head to Lincolnshire without a league win in a dozen games and having shared six goals with Tamworth at The Lamb last time out on December 2nd.

This was another game quickly re-scheduled having been postponed last weekend after the heavy snow, and Boston`s new boss Craig Elliott will be looking for a win that would take them out of the bottom three and level on points with Southport.

Elliott has known nothing but success in recent seasons with Shaw Lane AFC and will be buoyed by their 2-1 win against York City on December 2nd – the last time they saw action.

Another new manager looking for a first win is North Ferriby United`s Chris Bolder as his side host mid-table Curzon Ashton on another swiftly re-arranged fixture from last weekend.

Bolder saw his new charges suffer a 2-0 defeat to fellow strugglers Nuneaton Town in his first game in charge on December 2nd and will be desperate to see his side triumph for the first time since beating Blyth Spartans on August 19th.

Curzon have done remarkably well since winning promotion and sit a comfortable five points ahead of the drop zone.

However, manager John Flanagan will be looking to get back to winning ways after successive draws against two other strugglers in Southport and Nuneaton to ensure they head into the Christmas and New Year fixtures with a decent cushion.