National League North Preview

By Mark Stillman

In form Buxton travel to a Scunthorpe United side who remain top despite a few wobbles in recent weeks.

Scunthorpe United v Buxton

Scunthorpe have scored the most goals in National League North and have the joint best defence, but recent results haven’t all gone to play for the Lincolnshire club.

It’s two wins in nine, albeit that includes a 6-0 thrashing of troubled Farsley Celtic, and Tuesday saw them lose 3-2 at Spennymoor Town. Luckily for the Iron, the three beneath them all lost and they kept top spot on goal difference.

When they win, they tend to win well – they’ve kept a clean sheet in all eight league victories. But Tuesday was the fifth time this season that United have lost points from a winning position and it’s an issue which is derailing a bid to better last year’s play-off finish.

In contrast, fifth placed Buxton have won four of their last five, scoring 14 goals en route. After four straight defeats in all competitions they’ve turned the corner. The goals of Connor Kirby have aided them – the midfielder has seven for the season in the league, six in the last month.

While their home form is the joint best in the division, away still poses a concern. Just 28% of their points and 27% of their goals have been scored on the road and two of the bottom four have collected more points on their travels.

If they turn this around and win at Glanford Park, it’ll be Scunthorpe’s first home defeat in nine, a run stretching back to April’s play-off eliminator loss on penalties to Boston United.

Last year’s meeting hit the headlines as it was abandoned in the final moments of stoppage time due to a waterlogged pitch. Buxton were 2-1 up but had to replay they game. It worked in their favour – they returned later in September and won 3-0.

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

Read up on all the weekend’s National League North matches in Sunday’s NLP!