Crucial afternoon ahead in National League North promotion race

Brackley Town are hoping to pull away from teams below them in the National League North as they take on Leamington. 

The Saints have been on an unbeaten run spanning 17 games which takes it back to the end of January.  

They currently sit top with one point separating them and second place Gateshead. A win and a loss for Gateshead would extend Brackley’s lead at the top to four points going into final five games.  

Opponents Leamington are sat midtable and will be hoping to get their first win in five games and finish the season strong.  

Gateshead travel to strugglers Guiseley, where the Heed will be hoping that Brackley can slip up and they can get all three points to take them to the summit of the National League North.  

However, Guiseley have a boost in confidence after beating Kettering Town 2-0 on Tuesday night in Steve Kittrick’s dug-out return following management team Russ O’Neill, Marcus Bignot and Paul Clayton being put on gardening leave for the reminder of the season.  

A win for Guiseley could see them jump out of the relegation zone and see either one of city neighbours Farsley Celtic or Blyth Spartans drop to 22^nd. 

Farsley and Blyth both play each other in what is a crucial game. Farsley have had an upturn in form with three wins in the last six games whereas Blyth have only won once in the last six.  

In the push for play-offs a defeat for York City or Boston United could see them both drop out of the top seven spots.  

A chasing pack of four teams are currently vying for sixth and seventh spot occupied by the Minstermen and the Pilgrims. 

York play one of the teams chasing a berth, Spennymoor Town and a win for the Moors could see either one of them Kettering Town, Southport, or Darlington leapfrog York into sixth.  

It is a similar situation for Boston who host 15^th place Bradford Park Avenue.  

A win for either side however will just keep the vying pack off for another week.  

By Matthew Ward