THIS Saturday’s football action is highly anticipated.

Witton Albion will host neighbours 1874 Northwich in the first of at least three meetings between the two sides this season.

Saturday’s contest at the U Lock It Stadium, kick-off 3pm, comes in the first round of the Mid Cheshire District FA Senior Cup.

And the sides will go into the clash at polar ends of the Northern Premier League West table, with 1874 challenging at the top end and Witton languishing fourth from bottom.

Albion, with an entirely new squad under Jon Macken after last season's relegation from the Premier Division, will be hoping to build on their 1-1 draw at Kidsgrove on Saturday which ended a run of three defeats; while 1874 have the momentum of two successive wins behind them including a 2-1 success against Skelmersdale United last time out.

“If you win a game you’ve got to be confident going into the next one,” said 74 co-manager Wayne Goodison.

“We’re under no illusions, Witton are a big club. We need to go there and make sure we perform, and if we do then we’ll give them a good game.”

1874 will also face Witton at Townfield on Boxing Day and then return to the U Lock It Stadium again on Easter Monday.

Meanwhile, Lee Duckworth’s Winsford United have a crunch home clash with bottom side Burscough in the North West Counties Premier Division on Saturday.

Burscough are only two points behind Blues and therefore a victory at Barton Stadium would see them climb off bottom spot.

Elsewhere, Northwich Victoria will defend a nine-match unbeaten run in the NWCFL when they return to action at Lower Breck on Saturday, having not played since their six-game winning run ended with a 2-2 draw at home to Litherland REMYCA last time out.

And Liam Page’s Barnton FC side have also not tasted defeat in their past nine games so will go to seventh-placed Maine Road on Saturday in the second round of the Edward Case Cup in buoyant mood.

All above games kick-off at 3pm.