Why should I watch..?

To see if the momentum Witton take from a productive Easter, which yielded four points from meetings with Hednesford and Warrington, continues into this weekend.

A victory for Farsley Celtic, their opponents at Throstle Nest on Thursday, in midweek leaves Carl Macauley’s men three points adrift of a promotion play-offs place.

As an absolute minimum, they will want to travel to Leeds within striking distance of their hosts.

Marine should provide a significant obstacle.

Their home form has improved, and they had lost only one of their previous eight games at the Travel Arena before Buxton’s win there last weekend.

Despite sitting third-bottom, their relegation fears are over with Sutton Coldfield unable to catch them.

What they’ve said

“We let ourselves down last week, and the supporters as well.

“Some players assumed they were better than what they are and instead of playing to their strengths they decided otherwise.

“None justified their selection, and I was bitterly disappointed.

Tommy Lawson, Marine manager

“The past is exactly that.

“We didn’t get results at Marine, and in football that can lead to consequences for a manager.

“I don’t have hard feelings though; I know the chairman well, the board and other people who I’ll be happy to see again.”

Carl Macauley, Witton Albion manager

Numbers game

Only two teams, Sutton Coldfield and Coalville, have collected fewer points in front of their own supporters than Marine in the Northern Premier League’s top-flight

Marine team news

Full-back Pete Wylie returns after missing last Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at home to 10-man Buxton.

However James Short (knee) is a doubt after missing the same game because of injury.

Witton team news

Carl Macauley has received a boost after River Humphreys and Owen Dale (both groin) declared themselves fit to feature.

He also welcomes back Prince Haywood to the squad after the midfielder missed both games at Easter due to work commitments.

Man to keep an eye on

James Foley

Not the only player in Witton’s squad to be facing his old club, but perhaps one who will most keen to show Marine what they have missed since his departure for Wincham Park last summer.

Has been among Albion’s most consistent performers all season, a point proven by his involvement in every league game to date.

Form guide (past six in league)

Marine L D W L W W

Witton D W L L W W

Most recent meetings

Witton 1-1 Marine (NPL Premier Division, September 5 2017) Report

Marine 0-1 Witton (NPL Premier Division, January 1, 2105) Report

Witton 3-1 Marine (NPL Premier Division, August 25, 2014) Report

Remember when…

Witton last visited the Marine Travel Arena for a Northern Premier League fixture?

The visitors were victors on New Year’s Day in 2015 thanks to Jamie Rainford’s winner against his former club.

Who was in the home team’s dugout? Carl Macauley, of course.

It was a fifth win in eight games for Witton, who moved six points clear of the Premier Division’s relegation zone as a result.

Tony Sullivan, Albion’s manager that day, is now assistant to Tommy Lawson at the Crosby-based club.

It was difficult to envisage then that it would be Witton, and not Marine, that would end up being demoted.

The Guardian was there, and this is what we saw: Marine 0-1 Witton: match report

Odds (bet 365)

Marine 7/4

Draw 3/1

Witton Evens

Essential information

When Saturday, April 7

Kick-off 3pm

Address Marine Travel Arena, College Road, Crosby, Liverpool L23 3AS

Admission Adults £10, Concessions £5, Accompanied under 11s Free

Parking Limited at the ground. Available on nearby streets