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Saturday's Blue Square North Preview

Blue Square North leaders Droylsden welcome Workington to the Butcher's Arms Ground this weekend looking to increase their lead at the top of their table to eight points.

But second-placed Southport will have other ideas as they travel to mid-table AFC Telford.

The Bloods' last home encounter saw them lose 2-1 to Corby with manager Dave Pace revealing that the performance was 'not good enough'. Since then, however, Droylsden have beaten Telford away from home before drawing 2-2 with lowly Harrogate Town while the Reds have won one and lost one against the two bottom teams in the league.

Buoyed by their midweek FA Cup win over Alfreton Town, Southport boss Liam Watson believes his side must now go on and record similar good wins against top Blue Square North sides.

He told the Southport Visiter: "It was important for us to finally beat one of the 'big boys' in our league this week. Last season we never once beat any of the other top five sides in 12 games against them. We played Telford four times, Alfreton twice, Gateshead four times and Tamworth twice.

"Hopefully that puts a different mentality on the future games for us because now we will be expecting to get a result."

Telford are currently 10th in the table with 16 points from 12 games and manager Rob Smith was taking no chances coming into the game as he prepared by watching Southport in mid-week.

He added: "Rob Smith will have not seen an awful lot different from our side to last season when he watched on Tuesday other than we now have Rob Marsh-Evans, are playing Chris Lever at right back instead of left back, Ashley Winn is playing in a different role and he will have never seen Chris Simm in a Southport shirt.

"Either Rob is scared of us or it is just he is a very, very hard working manager."

Watson welcomes the return of Shaun Gray and Robbie Booth, who were on loan at Burscough and Vauxhall Motors respectively, while The Bucks have a full strength squad available with only Carl Rodgers set to undergo a late fitness test on a possible broken toe.

Eastwood Town manager Paul Cox saw his side lose to Ilkeston in the Cup but has switched his focus back to the league as he attempts to get back to winning ways against second-from bottom Vauxhall Motors.

The Badgers could go top of the pile if results go their way - they have accumulated 22 points from 12 matches and are third in the table, three points behind leaders Droylsden but with a game in hand.

He told the Derby Evening Telegraph: "We only have ourselves to blame for the missed chances (against Ilkeston).

"However, if we get three points on Saturday, everything will be forgotten.

"Although Vauxhall have only won once this season, they have drawn half their games, which proves they are a difficult team to beat. In addition, their only victory came over Fleetwood Town in September, so they are not a team to be taken lightly."

Cox will have to make do without Danny Holland, who is still sidelined with a knee injury, as well as Marc Smith, who has a pulled groin. Tom Marshall is a long term casualty as he recovers from a shoulder injury. Craig McAughtrie is set to return.

Fleetwood Town goalkeeping coach Eric Nixon has voiced his concerns ahead of the trip to Gloucester after labouring to victory against Vauxhall Motors in the Cup.

He told the club's official website: "First and foremost we need to ensure we come back without conceding any early goals like last weekend. We will be looking for a clean sheet at the end of the game. Making sure our defence is tight will allow us to build upfront and take something home.

"We were pleased with the second half display against Vauxhall and will be looking to build on that from the start this weekend. We made no changes during that game but that doesn't guarantee anyone a place. The team best suited to the opposition will be selected on Saturday."

Gloucester, meanwhile, have completed the signing of 22-year-old Clevedon Town striker Sean Seavill. Manager Dave Mehew is delighted to have added some competition to his forward line.

He told This is Gloucestershire: "The one thing we have lacked in the last few weeks is quality in the final third.

"Having Sean in the side and Mike Symons back from injury gives us options up front and with three big games in a week we may change a few.

"On paper we're not expected to get anything from the game, but fortunately football isn't played with paper."

Jack Harris is out for the hosts after rolling his ankle in training but Mike Symons will play despite picking up a similar injury.

Fleetwood have Alan Wright back in contention after he recovered from a calf injury.

Elsewhere, Farsley Celtic prepare for their away day at Redditch without manager Neil Parsley, who is on holiday.

Assistant manager Simeon Bambrook and coach Mark Jackson will take charge of the side for the next three games.

Bambrook told Farsley Today: "I spoke to Neil before he went and he pretty much handed the reins over and said 'manage it how you would manage it'.

"He said 'I'm not here and I can't make decisions on who you think is looking good in training and who you think is fit.'"

Ilkeston boss Kevin Wilson will be without Gary Ricketts for the visit of Northwich, with the striker suspended for the next five matches. David Graham looks set to take his place up front.

In the other matches, 11th placed Blyth Spartans take on seventh-placed Hinckley United, while Gainsborough and Solihull Moors play a six-pointer at the bottom of the table as Harrogate search for three points that will lift them from danger. Their opponents, Alfreton Town, have lost two on the trot and will want to get back to winning ways to enhance their play-off hopes.

All the fixtures in full:

AFC Telford v Southport

Blyth Spartans v Hinckley Utd

Droylsden v Workington

Gainsborough v Solihull Moors

Gloucester v Fleetwood Town

Harrogate Town v Alfreton Town

Hyde v Corby

Ilkeston Town v Northwich

Redditch v Farsley Celtic

Stafford Rangers v Stalybridge

Vauxhall Motors v Eastwood Town