East Preview: The unpredictables

Taddy currently sit in fifth spot, and the final play-off place, in the table after four games without a win.

Belper boss Grant Black said: “That’s the league this year. The only two teams who have been on a run this season is Morpeth and Brighouse, who are potentially fighting it out for top place, everyone else has put two or three games together.

“Pontefract went to Spalding and were beaten 7-3 last weekend, Carlton Town got a points at Ossett United. Who’d have thought that before Saturday?

“Tadcaster were in the middle of a good run when they came to us but since then they’ve been beaten.

“They didn’t play this weekend so it might take them a while to get into it, we’ll have to see.
And added: “We’re confident wherever we go. If we can get three points on Saturday, which is a tough ask, it puts us back into the mix come February.”

Bottom club Gresley will have no fewer than four new faces in their line-up for the visit of Ossett United for new manager Gavin Hurren’s first game in charge.


Left-back Trey Braithwate, strikers Curvin Ellis and Luke Barlone, and midfielder Luke Moran have all been brought in this week.

Gresley have lost nine of their last 10 games, while Ossett have enjoyed an unbeaten start to 2019.

Cleethorpes Town’s push for the play-offs continues with a trip to Carlton Town, who have the worst home record in the East Division with just five points at Stoke Lane this season.

It’s a record that Carlton will be desperate to improve on in an incredibly tight fight against relegation, while for the Owls, another win will likely push them closer to the play-off picture after a remarkable revival over the winter.

The number of title contenders appears to be reducing and it could well turn in to a two-horse race, with Morpeth Town six points clear of Brighouse Town, who themselves are five points clear of third placed Pontefract Collieries.

After a weekend off, Brighouse return to action with a home game against Marske United.

Manager Val Powell said: “We must not get heady about this and we must also keep playing each week and focussed.

“After being without a fixture last weekend after the original away game at Wisbech was pulled forward after we had gone out of the FA Cup, it is imperative we get back in action this weekend and keep playing. Not only for the momentum but also for the mentality of the players and keeping the edge on match fitness.

"We cannot afford for them to drop into a training mode, it has to be matches and to this end I was talking last weekend about adding more covers for the pitch in case of frost or snow.

"We have had positive talks with Wakefield Trinity Rugby League Club and all our committee members are trying to source covers. The forecast going towards Saturday appears to be in our favour but then comes the week after with Stamford set to travel to us. We just cannot afford to rest on our laurels."

Leaders are Morpeth are away at Stocksbridge Park Steels, who moved off the bottom of the table with their first away win of the season at Pickering Town last week.

Despite their lowly position, Steels’ home form is actually very reasonable, with five wins and two draws from 10 games this season.

Third placed Pontefract were hit for seven by Spalding United last week and they host Wisbech Town on Saturday as they look to return to form.

Colls were on a fine run of wins, but have wobbled in recent weeks, losing two and drawing one of their last four games.

Wisbech are currently at the top of the group of seven teams fighting to get away from the relegation zone and have become tough to beat, losing just twice in their last 10 games.

Level on points with Colls are Sheffield, who host another one of those teams in the bottom group, Pickering Town, on Saturday.

AFC Mansfield slipped back in to the relegation zone despite their best run of the season which has seen two wins and three draws in their last six games.

They travel to Loughborough Dynamo, who after back-to-back defeats will want to get their play-off push back on track.

Elsewhere, Frickley Athletic welcome Stamford and Lincoln United get the chance to halt their tumble down the table with a home game against Spalding United.