Premier Preview: Warrington host play-off contenders

The Yellows dropped to third in midweek following North Ferriby’s results being expunged. They are now four points behind league leaders Farsley, and with Trinity having won six of their last eight on the road, it will be another test if Paul Carden’s side are going to bounce back to winning ways.

Should they fail to win, Adam Lakeland’s table-toppers could open up a seven-point gap at the helm of the EVO-STIK League Premier division with a win over mid-table Stalybridge, while South Shields will be looking to keep up the pace as they take on a Marine side with just two wins in their last 10 on home soil.

Ahead of Farsley’s game, midfield Chris Atkinson admits that they cannot afford to let the table reshuffle – caused by Ferriby’s demise – affect their mindset with just seven games to play.

“It’s very tight now at the top of the table because of what’s happened with the North Ferriby situation, but it is what it is, and we have to deal with it,” he told the club’s official website.

“We have dealt with everything that has been thrown at us all season, so all we can do is concentrate on ourselves and prepare properly for each game that we have left.”

Elsewhere, Nantwich have the chance to solidify their play-off spot and keep their four-game unbeaten streak going with victory over current relegation-dwellers Workington, while Buxton will have watch on as the teams behind them bid to close the gap on the top five.

Should Gainsborough win away at Warrington, they will enter the play-off places on goal difference, while Scarborough could close the gap by registering just their second win in six at home to Lancaster.

Having won just once in their last five games, Basford will look to pick up three points when Bamber Bridge visit Greenwich Avenue, while Hyde United can end their three-game losing run at home to a Stafford side fresh unbeaten in six matches.

Mickleover can give their survival hopes an almighty boost if they overcome mid-table Whitby, while Witton can climb as high as eighth if they record a third away win on the spin at Grantham’s South Kesteven Sports Stadium.

In the final game of the round, Hednesford and Matlock, who are both locked on 40 points, face off at Keys Park.

To view all the weekend's games, visit the EVO-STIK League fixtures page.

Words by James Messenger