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Saturday's Blue Square North Preview

Southport manager Liam Watson has challenged his side to reclaim top spot in the Blue Square North when they face AFC Telford on Saturday after losing their place to Fleetwood Town.

He told the Southport Visiter: "It is a game we have got to be taking three points from and we have got to get about our business early; got to be up and at them and get the ball forward as quick as possible.

"I'm not really interested in what Fleetwood do and they don't give out the trophies until April. Fleetwood have been clever in what they have done in making sure all their games are on and fair play to them for that. The next two games we have just got to mirror what Fleetwood do, that is for certain."

Southport beat ninth-placed Bucks earlier in the season and they will need to match that result as Fleetwood prepare to take on Blyth Spartans - but with two games in hand over Fleet, they will not be panicking just yet.

Blyth are one of three Blue Square North teams Fleetwood have not yet played this season with Town skipper Jamie Milligan looking to heap more misery on the mid-table side. Blyth were beaten 5-1 at Northwich on Tuesday and Milligan, who scored a wonder goal in his side's 2-0 win over Farsley Celtic, is hoping the club's supporters will be out in their numbers to support the side. He told the Fleetwood Weekly News: "We are top now and there's a bit of pressure on Southport. It's another home game tomorrow and hopefully the fans will be here like they always are."

Third-placed Hinckley Utd will be hoping to get back to winning ways after losing to lowly Harrogate Town in the week. They travel to managerless Stalybridge this weekend, who have installed Benny Phillips as caretaker-manager while they search for a permanent boss.

Hinckley had an indifferent start to the season, winning once in their opening six games but since then they have lost only twice and moved into the play-off spots with ten wins in sixteen games.

Eastwood Town will be hoping for maximum points a they welcome Redditch to Coronation Park. The Badgers beat The Reds in their last encounter away from home but manager Paul Cox admitted it won't be easy the second time around.

Cox told the club's official website: "It's always strange to play a club back to back, it's not often that you get the same result in both games for some reason. Redditch will be looking to get revenge at our place and I am sure they will make things very difficult for us, but we are always looking to get three points at home, whoever we play."

The final side occupying a play-off place are Droylsden, who welcome Gainsborough to the Butchers' Arms, knowing that they need to win to stay ahead of the chasing pack.

The Bloods last match saw them draw 2-2 with Stafford Rangers while Trinity come off the back of a credible 0-0 with Blue Square Premier side Tamworth.

Alfreton Town, Corby, Stalybridge, Telford all have a realistic chance of making a play-off place their own and Alfreton know this weekend's clash with Vauxhall Motors is the perfect opportunity to ensure they are not left floundering come the end of the season. Vauxhall have been woeful for much of the season and after conceding a stoppage-time equaliser at Solihull Moors on Tuesday, Town are looking to get back to winning ways.

Alfreton assistant manager Russ O'Neill told This is Derbyshire: "We have now got to pick ourselves up and go to Vauxhall Motors and get something there. We have told the players that the season starts again now."

Despite their lowly position, Solihull Moors will prove a stern test for Corby after their morale boosting draw with Alfreton in midweek. Despite their lofty position, Town have been inconsistent, and most recently failed to overcome Gainsborough, as the sides' drew 2-2.

Elsewhere, Harrogate Town travel to Stafford Rangers on Saturday with Town boss Simon Weaver hoping his side can build on Tuesday's victory over Hinckley United. Town went ten league matches without a win and with a new look side, they dominated proceeding against their more illustrious opponents.

Weaver told the Knaresborough Post: "We need to be consistent now. It was really pleasing to win, I was delighted. But we're not going to get carried away, it's just one game, we need to go on a run of games now and pick up some more points."

Gloucester have played three more games than their opponents this weekend and know that a win over Workington is vital if they are to avoid being embroiled in a relegation scrap. They still have six points between them and the bottom three but City's players are under no illusion as to how important it is they continue to pick up points.

Manager Dave Mehew told This is Gloucestershire: "I've had a chat with a number of the managers around the league and they say that Workington are a good side. We were disappointed to lose against them at home earlier in the season but I picked the wrong team that day, so it was a case of lesson learned."

All the fixtures in full:

Corby v Solihull Moors

Droylsden v Gainsborough

Eastwood Town v Redditch

Farsley Celtic v Northwich

Fleetwood Town v Blyth Spartans

Southport v AFC Telford

Stafford Rangers v Harrogate Town

Stalybridge v Hinckley Utd

Vauxhall Motors v Alfreton Town

Workington v Gloucester