Saturday's Blue Square North Preview

Kettering Town will be looking to further extend their lead at the top of the table while Southport will look to record good result against Worcester City.

AFC Telford v Hucknall Town

The Bucks will have to make do without manager Rob Smith after he was handed a 6 match touchline ban by the FA this week.

Chairman Lee Carter said: "I am very angry and very upset. I cannot believe that any reasonable organisation would just dismiss the evidence that we presented to them.

"Members of the panel spoke to us like little boys to the point were I just felt like walking out.

"I know the usual cynics will have a pop at Rob Smith but I can assure you that he is not deserving of this.

"I have watched him work very hard on his discipline since he has been here.

"We are 100% behind him and, in a way, I feel I have let him down a little bit."

Meanwhile, Hucknall will be keen to return to winning ways after suffering a narrow defeat to Southport recently.

The Yellows are hovering dangerously close to the drop zone with 24 points from 27 fixtures.

Blue SQ have given the home side odds of 11/2 on a 2-0 victory.

Alfreton Town v Kettering Town

Alfreton Town have the chance to inflict a first Blue Square Conference North away defeat of the season on league leaders Kettering Town on Saturday.

Reds manager Nicky Law adds latest signing, central defender Rob Pacey to his squad for the first time but he is still without injured midfielder Kris Bowler and striker Danny Reet who sits out the last of a four match ban.

The Poppies are boosted by the return of John Dempster, who has completed a one-match ban.

He is expected to replace Luke Graham, who went off injured against Stalybridge.

Mark Rawle is still out so the front three of Chris Beardsley, Craig Westcarr and Jean-Paul Marna should stay intact for Saturday's match.

Blue SQ have odds of 13/2 on the match ending in a 1-1 draw.

Barrow v Stalybridge Celtic

Mark Boyd's international clearance by the Irish FA has now been received from the Football Association and he is available for selection for the visit of Stalybridge on Saturday.

James Scales misses that game with a one match ban for his double yellow card dismissal against Gainsborough on Jan 12th.

Barrow are currently eleventh in the league, six places and twelve points behind Celtic, having played a game less.

Blue SQ have given Barrow odds of 9/1 on a 2-1 win.

Blyth Spartans v Gainsborough Trinity

Blyth boss Harry Dunne will miss the services of Adrian Webster, as the New Zealand international heads off to Finland for a month's trial.

To make matters worse for the struggling Spartans, Chris McCabe's injury looks to be more severe than was previously thought.

McCabe had his foot x-rayed on Sunday and it's feared that he has suffered a fracture to his foot.

Trinity are currently within touching distance of a mid-table berth and a win on Saturday would see them achieve this goal.

Blue SQ have odds of 6/1 on the match ending in a 1-1 draw.

http://www.bluesq.com/bet?action=go_event&ev_id=1435077

Harrogate Town v Burscough

Having returned to winning ways on Tuesday at Workington, Harrogate will be aiming to build on that excellent performance with good result against Burscough.

Town boss Neil Aspin told BBC North Yorkshire: "It's another game we need three points from. I have to admit, the run Stalybridge were on, I didn't expect them to go there and win.

"They must have played exceptionally well. Their confidence will be up, but our confidence will also be up. It should be a good game."

Burscough currently sit in eighth position in the league table with 38 points from 26 games.

Away from their Victoria Park home they have won six and lost eight league games so far this season.

In the process they have scored 21 away goals and conceded 23.

Blue SQ have given the visitors odds of 9/1 on a 1-0 win.

Hinckley United v Boston United

Strugglers Hinckley are expected to hand debuts to their two new signings when the Pilgrims visit Marston Stadium.

Michael Byron has returned to Notts County at the end of his loan period and Gavin Hoyte has been signed on a three-month loan from Blue Square Premier side Cambridge United.

Young striker Ryan Charles has been recalled by Luton Town, but has been replaced by Brian Quailey, from Nuneaton Borough, who was signed on Monday.

Boston's Matt Bloomer and Ashley Nicholls are both fighting to shrug off illness ahead of Saturday's match.

The Pilgrims will also be forced to cope without the services of injured quartet Jon Froggatt (back), Stewart Talbot (calf), Simon Weaver (ankle) and Rob Wesley (Achilles).

However, winger Matt O'Halloran is fit again and should figure, while Liam Green and Mbiyeye Medine could also come into contention for recalls.

Blue SQ have odds of 12/1 on the match ending in a 2-2 draw.

Leigh RMI v Vauxhall Motors

Relegation candidates Leigh RMI and Vauxhall Motors face each other this weekend, with both sides in desperate need of all three points.

Leigh are rock-bottom with just 14 points from 24 fixtures while their opponents hold a five-point advantage and also have a game in hand.

Blue SQ have given the home side odds of 7/1 on a 1-0 victory.

Nuneaton Borough v Workington

Kevin Wilkins' Nuneaton Borough play host to Workington at Liberty Way as they look to close the gap on the promotion play-off places.

Alex Rodman signed for Nuneaton from Gainsborough Trinity on Friday and the forward is expected to make his debut this weekend.

Workington suffered a narrow defeat at the hands of high-flying Harrogate Town in midweek and will be focused bouncing back.

Blue SQ have odds of 6/1 on the match ending in a 1-1 draw.

Redditch v Solihull Moors

Redditch will be looking to move into the top half of the table on Saturday with a good result against struggling Solihull Moors.

They are currently in 13th place with 32 points from 25 fixtures while their opponents hover just above the dreaded drop zone with 24 points from 26 games.

Solihull Moors will miss the services of Gilbert Cummins, who has gone back to Bedworth.

Blue SQ have given the hosts odds of 7/1 on a 2-1 victory.

Southport v Worcester City

Southport manager Peter Davenport has no new injury concerns following Tuesday's Liverpool Senior Cup Tie at Marine.

New signing Neil Sorvel is expected to make his debut after signing on a month's loan from League Two side Morecambe.

Southport have taken 25 points out of a possible 33 in an unbeaten run of 11 league matches. They last lost a league game back in October when they were beaten by Harrogate Town.

Worcester still have a long injury list with long term absentees Danny McDonnell and Shabir Khan being joined by Mark Danks, Telford target Chris Smith, Troy Wood, Adam Webster, Ryan Clarke, Craig Wilding and Rapinder Gill.

Wilding and Clarke will play through their injuries while Gill came off the subs bench to help City stage their comeback last weekend.

Chris Smith is also expected to feature in the squad. Youth team striker Matt Dinsmore, looks likely to keep his place after an excellent debut display in which he hit the post in the move which led to Worcester's first goal.

Blue SQ given the visitors odds of 16/1 on a 2-1 win.

Tamworth v Hyde United

Manager Gary Mills will be looking to steer his side to a third consecutive win on Saturday when the Tigers make the trip to the Lamb Ground.

The Lambs have experienced an upturn in their fortunes recently and have dragged themselves out of the dreaded drop zone with two straight wins.

However, they can expect a stern test as the Tigers look to break into the promotion play-off places.

Hyde are currently in sixth place and have collected 44 points from 25 fixtures.

Blue SQ have odds of 12/1 on the match ending in a 2-2 draw.

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