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| Jason Cowley Scores For Hereford In Last Season's Game Against Marine |
A look at the fixtures in the National North League this weekend written by Richard Dorman:
The November schedule comes to a close on Saturday evening – but who’ll be three points better off when final whistles sound on the fixtures in the Enterprise National League North?
The fixtures are poised to deliver the drama on another high-octane weekend.
South Shields remain top of the pile despite suffering two draws and a defeat in league action this month. Peterborough Sports, whose consecutive home wins have elevated them out of the relegation zone, are making the 400-mile round-trip.
Just two points off top sit AFC Fylde, who brushed aside last weekend’s home defeat to Buxton by drubbing Macclesfield 5-1 in midweek. They have the shortest journey of the weekend to Curzon Ashton.
Darlington kept the Nash out of the play-off places by salvaging a 3-3 draw in the week. They are away this weekend, making their inaugural trip to a Bedford Town outfit who have suffered five defeats in their past six fixtures in league and cup.
12th-placed Buxton know the threat that Merthyr Town will bring this weekend. Hotshot Ricardo Rees has 23 goals to his name so far this season… more than six other teams have in total! His firepower has headlined a seven-game winning streak in the league for the Welsh outfit.
Below Merthyr, a seven-point gap has opened up until Scarborough and Marine, who sit fourth and fifth respectively, separated by goal-difference. The pair both hit the road this weekend; the Seadogs visit Macclesfield, whose eight-game unbeaten run was ended in midweek, while the Mariners head to Hereford, who fell into the drop-zone last Saturday.
Chester kept the Bulls beneath the dotted line by salvaging a late, late draw at home in midweek courtesy of Connor Woods. Now they hit the road to Spennymoor Town, who are on a tough run of six defeats, two draws and a solitary win in their previous nine.
Radcliffe have occupied a play-off berth for precisely 10 weeks – but after back-to-back losses to nil at struggling sides, they’ll need to be wary of their guests AFC Telford United, fresh from a fine display last time out.
It was Oxford City who suffered a confidence-denting 4-0 loss to the Bucks on Tuesday… by contrast, Saturday’s visitors to the MGroup Stadium, King’s Lynn Town, had a morale-boosting victory in the week when they came from two down to win.
Leamington still prop up the table; they may sense an opportunity to make ground on one of their competitors when Worksop Town visit the spa town. The Tigers are 20th in the table, which puts them above the relegation line – just.
On the other side of the line sit Alfreton Town, who have a chance to climb back out on Saturday with a win over Southport – a home victory would see them leapfrog their visitors.
Last, and by no means least, Kidderminster Harriers welcome Chorley to Aggborough. Two points and one place divide the pair – 10th and 11th respectively going into the weekend. The Magpies have triumphed on the last three league meetings between these sides.