This weekend sees another batch of big matches in the two Premier Divisions.
In the Premier Division Central current leaders Tamworth welcome already-relegated AFC Rushden & Diamonds to the CR Mot Centre Community Stadium.
And whilst former Diamonds stalwart Andy Peaks now sits in the Lambs` dug-out, I have little doubt he will be extremely disappointed to see the club he managed from April 2014 until February 2022 suffer such a poor season.
However, he will also be wary of the fact that Chris Nunn’s side can go to Tamworth with nothing to lose and play in a more relaxed frame of mind – that proving to be the case on Tuesday night when they beat Basford United 2-0 at Hayden Road to record their first three-point haul since January 2nd.
The Lambs have been caught by Coalville Town after Adam Stevens` men returned from Bloomfields with a point from a 0-0 draw against Needham Market on Tuesday.
The Ravens have a game in hand on Tamworth but there’s only one goal between them, so a race to the final game looks on the cards.
Will it be a return to the Vanarama National League for Tamworth for the first time since 2018, or will it be a first venture into Step 2 for Coalville?
Stevens` side travel to the Westwood Stadium on Saturday to take on an out-of-form St Ives Town side, who have failed to win in their last nine matches, dropping them alarmingly down the table to 17th and only three points above the drop zone.
When discussing promotion to the National League, we shouldn’t, of course, forget third-placed Leiston, who are only three points behind the top two, although they have played one more game than Tamworth and two more than Coalville.
However, one cannot refute that former Norwich City star Darren Eadie and Chris Wigger have done a terrific job at Victory Road, whatever the outcome.
And the Suffolk side host the game of the day in the division against fourth-placed Rushall Olympic.
Liam McDonald’s Pics, who beat a young Port Vale side 6-3 to reach the Staffordshire Senior Cup final in midweek, will want to carry that form into this weekend’s match.
Indeed, Rushall still have an outside chance of causing the top three problems as, after playing Leiston, they also face Coalville but then have fixtures against teams at the wrong end of the table to face in the run-in.
The Pics are currently four points behind Leiston but have played two games less.
There should be a decent crowd at Liberty Way on Saturday as fifth-placed Nuneaton Borough host the well-supported Bromsgrove Rovers.
And whilst Jimmy Ginnelly’s hosts look to have a play-off spot safe and secure, Sporting’s recent form is a concern as they have won just once in their last eight matches and have dropped down to 15th in the table.
Michael McGrath’s side go into the Boro game 6 points above the drop zone.
Ilkeston Town take their ten-game unbeaten run to an Alvechurch side who look relatively safe now in 13th place.
The Robins` top five hopes rest in others hands as much as their own as they trail Nuneaton by 8 points with only 15 left to play for.
At the other end of the table, second-bottom Hednesford Town could join Diamonds in being relegated if they lose at the Race Stadium to Needham Market and fifth-from-bottom Stratford Town beat in-form Barwell at the Arden Garages Stadium.
Barwell inflicted a 5-1 defeat on Hednesford last weekend and have lost just once in their last seven outings.
Third-bottom Bedford Town are in the worst form of any team in the division.
The Eagles haven’t tasted victory since hammering AFC Rushden & Diamonds 6-1 on Boxing Day and have failed to score in their last five games.
Graeme Tomlinson’s side face a `six-pointer` on Saturday with another of the strugglers, Basford United, who haven’t won in five, travelling to The Eyrie.
The Eagles currently trail fifth-bottom Stratford by 9 points.
Sandwiching them are Kings Langley, who welcome mid-table Stourbridge to the Orbital Fasteners Stadium on Saturday.
Chris Winton’s side are just a point behind Stratford but have played a game more.
The only games on Saturday with little riding on them apart from pride and final placings sees Mickleover, who are seventh, host tenth-placed Royston Town, while eighth-placed Redditch United have 12th-placed Hitchin Town visiting the Trico Stadium.
The Premier Division South title race is almost as tight as its sister division.
Currently, Weston-super-Mare lead the way with a five-point advantage over Truro City, who have played a game less than the Seagulls.
Scott Bartlett’s side, who came back from behind to snatch an 85th minute equaliser at fifth-placed Chesham United on Tuesday evening at The Meadow, have Winchester City visiting the Optima Stadium this weekend.
City are also in need of the points as, despite a good 4-0 victory over Beaconsfield Town last Saturday, the Citizens are 16th and only 7 points above the drop zone.
Incidentally, Weston’s match against Hendon at the Optima has been switched from next Tuesday (4th April) to Tuesday 18th April.
Truro haven’t played since March 18th when they won a `six-pointer` against Bracknell Town at The SB Stadium and they are at Holloway’s Park on Saturday taking on tenth-placed Beaconsfield.
Bracknell, two points behind the White Tigers with a game in hand, face a tough one with the always-hard-to-beat Metropolitan Police visiting.
Since losing to Truro, Jamie McClurg’s Robins have won away at relegation-threatened teams Harrow Borough and bottom-markers Yate Town.
Poole Town, in fourth, will look to dent Swindon Supermarine’s own top five hopes when Lee Spalding’s sixth-placed host the Dolphins at the Webbswood Stadium on Saturday.
Tom Killick’s Poole are on a great run of form, having been unbeaten in their last fourteen outings – Plymouth Parkway being the last side to beat the Dolphins on January 28th.
Spalding’s `Marine are five-points behind fifth-placed Chesham United with a game in hand on them and on Poole.
Chesham are at The Meadow again this weekend with Yate the visitors.
The Bluebells have failed to pick up any points from their last ten matches and are 9 points adrift of the safety mark with 15 left to play for.
Hayes & Yeading United’s top five hopes for a second successive season look to be maybe out of reach as they trail Chesham by 9 points in eighth.
Paul Hughes` side are down in Devon hoping for better weather than they have been having in midweek when they take on mid-table Tiverton Town at the Ian Moorcroft Stadium.
At the other end of the table, second-bottom Hartley Wintney are level on points with Yate with a three-goal better differential.
And Rowan Vine’s side face a real `six-pointer` on Saturday at The Memorial Playing Fields as the team immediately above them, Harrow Borough come to Hampshire.
It’s one win in their last fourteen games for The Row and twelve games without a win for Boro, who are 6 points adrift of the safety mark.
North Leigh’s terrific attempt to avoid what looked like being an inevitable relegation a few weeks ago continued when they shocked leaders Weston last weekend, running out 2-0 winners at Eynsham Park.
Chris Allen’s side face a tough one on Saturday though as they make the long trek to Bolitho Park to take on 11th-placed Plymouth Parkway.
Hendon, five points above the Millers with two games in hand, also face a big one on Saturday when they travel to the Hampshire coast to play Gosport Borough at the AEI Stadium.
Lee Allinson’s side travel in reasonable form though, being unbeaten in their last six outings – winning three and drawing three, with a `six-pointer` success against Hartley Wintney last weekend.
Mark Molesley’s Gosport had a vital 2-0 win at Harrow last Saturday to halt a run of six games without success – a run that dropped them down to 17th in the table, one point above Hendon.
Hanwell Town, not exactly 100% safe in 15th, make the long trip to South Wales to play a Merthyr Town side who are ninth and won at The Avenue Stadium against Dorchester Town last weekend after two defeats on the spin.
The Geordies go to the Met Coaches Community Stadium on the back of two successive home defeats to Poole and Swindon Supermarine.
And although there is little riding on the outcome of the game at Salisbury’s Raymond McEnhill Stadium in terms of promotion or relegation, it’s a derby with Dorchester that should pull in a decent crowd.
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