National League North Preview

By Mark Stillman

Saturday’s Star Game is 6th vs 7th in Step 2 with only goal difference separating the two.

Leamington v Scarborough Athletic

Leamington will be looking to bounce back from Saturday’s shock FA Cup defeat at Step 4 Harborough Town. Ben Starkie’s goal ousted Paul Holleran’s side out of the competition in only their third defeat this term.

Holleran celebrates 15 years in charge next month. He underwent surgery for prostrate cancer in the summer and has since returned to the dugout. The long-serving boss was described by Harborough chief Mitch Austin as “one of the classiest I’ve come across for a very long time” after their historic win.

The Brakes take on the Seadogs on the back of a five game unbeaten league run. It’s taken them into the play-off spots in National League North following last year’s promotion from Southern Premier Central. If they win on Saturday it’ll be a third successive home win at this level for the first time since August-September 2022.

Scarborough needed two late goals from defender Kieran Weledji to overcome NPL Premier strugglers Warrington Rylands at the weekend. It’s a theme for them this season – a third of their league goals have arrived after the 75th minute.

It extended their unbeaten run to six in all competitions and their only away defeat this season (last nine in all competitions on the road) was at Chester on Bank Holiday Monday. That alone an achievement – this weekend will be the fourth away game in a row where they’ve travelled to a side currently in the top six. Athletic are also the only team to defeat table toppers Scunthorpe United this season.

A win for Scarborough will see them leapfrog Leamington in the table. They could go as high as second depending on other results.

Saturday’s fixtures (KO 3pm unless stated):
Alfreton Town v Hereford
Buxton v Curzon Ashton
Chester v Farsley Celtic
Chorley v Warrington Town
King’s Lynn Town v Darlington
Leamington v Scarborough Athletic
Marine v Radcliffe
Needham Market v South Shields
Peterborough Sports v Rushall Olympic
Scunthorpe United v Oxford City
Southport v Brackley Town
Spennymoor Town v Kidderminster Harriers

Read up on all the games in Sunday’s NLP!