S/East Preview: Stamford and Leek battle for top spot

The table toppers hung on to top spot with a late 2-1 win at Chasetown, despite going down as early as the fifth minute, and they will have a tough ask this weekend as they host third-place Cleethorpes Town, who are just three points behind.

The Owls also recently announced the signing of former Doncaster Rovers and Gainsborough Trinity midfielder Harry Middleton.

Previewing the fixture, Stamford manager Graham Drury told the Stamford Mercury: "Both sides like to play it on the deck and it will be a game between two very good footballing teams.

"It should be a fantastic game. We've had a couple of tricky away games recently and negotiated a potential banana skin at home against Newcastle Town so hopefully we can do our job and take our unbeaten run into double figures in what will be a very tough game.

"Hopefully the people of Stamford will turn out and support us and do their bit to help keep us top of the league.

"The boys have been tremendous all season and deserve good support because we're top of the table for a reason.”

Leek Town thrashed previous leaders Carlton Town 4-0 in the league last weekend, and they host Frickley Athletic who sit 10th in the ladder and are unbeaten in the last four games.

At the foot of the table, Newcastle Town have just two league wins so far this season, and they host Loughborough Dynamo.

Kidsgrove Athletic head into the weekend following a 2-1 victory over Market Drayton Town in the Integro League Cup second round, and they travel to Spalding United, with Kevin Bastos in fine form, scoring a hat-trick against Worksop Town.

Elsewhere in the league, Belper Town are closing on a play-off spot with 26 league points, and they host Carlton Town just above them in sixth spot, with just two points seperating the sides on the table.

Sutton Coldfield Town host fifth-placed Stocksbridge Park Steels, while Glossop North End face Ilkeston.

Sheffield were involved in a six-goal thriller with Kidsgrove Athletic with a 3-3 result, goals from Cody Prior and a double from Rieves Boocock inside the first half, and they host Worksop Town.

Just above Newcastle at the bottom, Wisbech Town search for their third win of the season as they host Chasetown, just two places above and two league points between them.