Saturday March the 1st sees a recent rarity in the Skrill Conference Premier as all 24 sides play at 3pm in a full round of fixtures.
Away from the Shay, the pick of Saturday’s games comes at the Abbey, as stuttering Cambridge United face struggling Kidderminster Harriers in a battle between two failed title contenders. The U’s topped the league table for much of the season, but suddenly find themselves a massive 14 points adrift from leaders Luton, and seemingly bound for the play-offs. Tuesday night saw more points dropped as they were beaten at Braintree, and boss Richard Money will be eager to distance his side from Barnet and Alfreton, who sit just a point behind his side. Kidderminster’s early season charge seems a lifetime ago now, and the Harriers look set for a tricky play-off battle as they sit in eighth place in the league. Tuesday’s win against Woking was only the Harriers’ second win of the year, and they now face a real test to make the play-offs for the second year running.
Another top of the table clash sees the untouchable Luton Town host Alfreton, with both boasting aMBitions of League football for next season. Luton have just been unbelievable, and have been scoring goals for fun in recent weeks and months; most recently on Tuesday as the knocked five past Wrexham. Indeed, the Hatters have scored an incredible 17 goals in their last three league games, and surely won’t be caught by anyone this season. Alfreton have gone under the radar somewhat this campaign, but do it in fourth, just a point behind Cambridge, and will fancy their chances in the play-offs, if they can maintain their consistent form.
Down the other end, there’s a real battle on at Haig Avenue, as Southport and Dartford face off, with both hoping to distance themselves from the on-going relegation dogfight. Southport’s shock win against Grimsby on Tuesday has lifted them out of the bottom four, but they remain just one point better off than both Aldershot and Dartford. The Darts’ recent form has given them a fighting chance of staying up, but Tuesday’s home draw against the Shots signified a missed opportunity to gain the upper hand in the scuffle to stay up.
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