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Macclesfield one win from glory | NPL preview | Saturday 22 March

Macclesfield could secure promotion and earn their place in the National League North for next season when they welcome Bamber Bridge to the Leasing.com Stadium this weekend.

Despite recording a 4-0 victory over Morpeth Town last Saturday, Robbie Savage’s side were forced to put their champagne on ice as Worksop Town’s 3-1 win over Hyde United delayed their Northern Premier League title celebrations.

Now, the Silkmen know that a win against the Brig will mathematically seal their ascension to Step 2 of the non-league pyramid, regardless of the Tigers’ result against Warrington Rylands.

Worksop’s opponents, the Blues, will be hoping to keep their dreams of reaching the play-offs alive. They currently sit eight points adrift of Stockton Town in fifth, but Craig Parry’s men are currently on a seven-game winning streak as they look to tie down a guaranteed home play-off clash, come the end of the season.

Arguably the fixture of the round, the aforementioned Stockton welcome Ilkeston Town to the Map Group UK Stadium in a crucial battle for the final play-off position.

A victory for the Robins would close the gap between themselves and their north-east opponents to just one point, but adversely, three points for the Anchors could see them leapfrog Ashton United into fourth place, depending on the outcome of the Robins’ trip to Leek Town.

Elsewhere, third-placed Guiseley make the trip to Hebburn Town in their bid to book their own home play-off clash next month.

Morpeth Town are another team whose play-off ambitions are still in the balance. They will look to bounce back away at Lancaster City this weekend after their five-game unbeaten run came to an end at the hands of the runaway league leaders last weekend.

Towards the middle of the table, Gainsborough Trinity host FC United of Manchester at the Northolme, while Prescot Cables travel to Tameside to take on Hyde United.

Matlock Town, who recently appointed Adam Clayton as their new manager until the end of the season following the departure of Ryan Cresswell, start the weekend four points adrift of safety, but a win against already-relegated Blyth Spartans on home soil would go a long way towards helping them avoid the drop.

Standing between the Gladiators and safety is Whitby Town, with the Seasiders making the journey west to Derbyshire to face off against Mickleover, who are also in dire need of three points in their battle to stave off relegation.

They will also be hoping that Basford United, who sit four points above them in 20th place, drop points at home to Workington.

Fixtures - Saturday 22 March