East Preview: Something's got to give in basement battle

By James Gordon

Four points separate the bottom seven in the EVO-STIK League East Division as the relegation battle hots up.

Two of those seven meet at the Forest Town Arena as AFC Mansfield host Wisbech Town.

Mansfield have moved off the bottom in recent weeks, winning two and drawing two before last week’s defeat to high-flying Brighouse Town.

Both sides were promoted to the division ahead of this season so will be keen to avoid an immediate return to step five.

One of the teams currently sitting in the relegation zone, Gresley, travel to a resurgent Cleethorpes Town, who are looking to extend their unbeaten run to eight games.

Gresley have managed just one point from their last seven, while the Owls have climbed up to 12th, seven points off the play-offs.

Propping up the table are Stocksbridge Park Steels, who travel to Pickering Town.

Steels are the only team in the league without a win away from home this season, but ending that run would move them within a point of Pickering, who currently sit sixth from bottom.

Third from bottom plays third from top as Spalding United host Pontefract Collieries.

The Tulips are expecting to have three new signings in their squad as they look to move away from the relegation places, while Colls are one of the form teams in the division, winning seven of their last 10 games.

The other of the bottom seven teams is Carlton Town, who travel to Ossett United.

Carlton have lost four of their last five matches and are just two points off the bottom.

Ossett, meanwhile, have enjoyed a superb start to 2019, winning three out of three without conceding a goal, a run which was taken them to the cusp of a play-off spot - in their first season as a United club.

They are waiting to pounce on any slip by Sheffield, who host Stamford, though with Tadcaster Albion out of action this weekend, a win for Ossett will lift them in to the play-off places regardless of the result at the “Home of Football”.

Leaders Morpeth Town will be out for revenge against Loughborough Dynamo, who ended their long unbeaten run in the reverse fixture back in November.

The two sides meet in the north east with Loughborough looking to bounce back from a surprise defeat to Wisbech Town last time out which dented their play-off chase.

Lincoln United are eight games without a win, a run which has seen them tumble down the table having spent the first third of the season in the top two spots in the table.

They face a trip to Marske United, who themselves haven’t won for seven games.

Elsewhere, Belper who have won one of their last six, host Frickley Athletic, who have won one of their last five, which was against league leaders Morpeth.

Where next?

New Evo-Stik NPL Show available The Evo-Stik NPL Show returns this week as we pay homage to the FA Trophy exploits of Ramsbottom United as we're joined by Manager Chris Wilcock.
West Preview: It's "El Staffico" New EVO-STIK League West Division leaders Atherton Collieries welcome struggling Kendal Town this weekend.

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