Saturday 18th January sees all but two Skrill Conference Premier sides in action, with plenty to play for in an exciting weekend of non-league football.
Besides Alfreton Town and Tamworth, who face off on Thursday evening on BT Sport 2, everyone else goes at the traditional time of 3pm on Saturday afternoon, with the pick of the action coming at Kenilworth Road, as table toppers Luton host Wrexham looking to go further clear of the chasing pack.
The Hatters have hit an unbelievable run of form in recent months; their last defeat in the league came on Friday the 13th of September 2013 – at the hands of Saturday’s visitors, Wrexham. This outstanding run has sent them five points clear at the Conference summit, though Cambridge United do have three games in hand on the Hatters. Wrexham on the other hand remain one of the most inconsistent teams in the division, although they’ve only lost only two of their last eight Skrill Conference Premier games.
There’s a play-off battle at Blundell Park as sixth placed Grimsby take on fourth placed Gateshead. The pair are separated by just one point after Gateshead’s draw against Aldershot on Tuesday, while Grimsby have four games in hand on their north-east rivals, after their match at Forest Green was abandoned after a floodlight failure.
Elsewhere, Chester host Barnet looking to pick up their first win in the league since early November. The Seals parted company with manager Neil Young last week and are yet to appoint a successor, despite an abundance of interest In the position. The North West side sit four points from safety now, and face a real battle to stay in the division come May. The Bees meanwhile sit eighth after a superb six week spell over November and December, but three defeats on the bounce halted their progress before getting back to winning ways against Alfreton a fortnight ago. Edgar Davids’ playing career looks all but over, but his side’s play-off aMBitions appear very much alive, with the club just three points from fifth.
Meanwhile, Hyde FC look to build on their first league win of the campaign at the 28th time of asking, as they welcome Forest Green Rovers to Ewen Fields. The Tigers won 2-0 at Welling United in midweek; a result that take their points tally up to seven points, although the Manchester club remain a massive 19 points from safety. Forest Green meanwhile remain uninspiring in the league, and sit closer to the relegation zone than they do to the play-off places; not something many would have predicted pre-season.
Elsewhere in the division, Aldershot host Kidderminster, Braintree take on Lincoln City, Hereford play Southport, Macclesfield travel to Nuneaton, Salisbury take on Dartford and Welling and Woking face off at Park View Road.
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