Why should I watch..?

To see if Witton can narrow a gap to the Northern Premier League Premier Division play-offs further following a 3-2 win at Matlock last weekend.

Carl Macauley’s men are unbeaten in the league since Boxing Day, and sit six points adrift of fifth-placed Ashton United.

They will need to improve on a home record that has yielded only six wins from 15 attempts to date, although a 4-1 win against Nantwich last time out at Wincham Park was encouraging.

Visitors Whitby will provide a stern test, and travel to Cheshire buoyed by avoiding defeat in their past half-dozen league fixtures.

Chris Hardy’s men have shut out the opposition in three of those games, moving towards the middle of the table.

What they’ve said

“The management team don’t say to us ‘we have to make the play-offs’ but as a group we know what we’re going for.

“When I signed, Carl [Macauley] and Gary [Martindale] told me they planned to set their sights high and that they felt this team could challenge the best sides.

“That’s why the past few weeks have been important.”

James Foley, Witton Albion midfielder

Numbers game

Whitby are unbeaten in their past six Premier Division matches – their best run of results in the league this season

Witton team news

Goalkeeper Calvin Hare and River Humphreys, a defender, will both have fitness tests on Saturday.

Manager Carl Macauley plans to select the side once he knows the outcome of those.

Everybody else is available though.

Whitby team news

Captain Stephen Snaith is suspended.

Experienced midfielder Andrew Monkhouse returns after a ban, while Callum Patton and Connor Dunlavey are unavailable.

Meanwhile an injury keeps Luke Bytheway on the sidelines.

Man to keep an eye on

Steven Tames

Without question Witton’s form player in front of goal after scoring in their past five matches.

His tally for the campaign now stands at 21 following a double at Mickleover Sports before Albion exited the Integro League Cup in midweek.

Form guide (past six in league)

Witton W D W D W D

Whitby W D W D D D

Most recent meetings

Whitby 1-2 Witton (NPL Premier Division, November 25 2017)

Witton 0-3 Whitby (NPL Premier Division, April 4 2015)

Whitby 1-1 Witton (NPL Premier Division, August 30 2014)

Remember when…?

Adam Warlow scored five times as Witton Albion thrashed 10-man Whitby on February 24 2007?

The highest league crowd of the campaign was at Wincham Park to watch Jim Vince’s men dismantle a rival that, like them, had designs on being promoted.

However they ran into an on-song teenager that put the hosts in front inside five minutes.

The young attacker had four goals to his name by the break, and the Seasiders had 10 men following Graham Robinson’s dismissal.

Mark Peers and Mike Moseley, either side of another Warlow effort from a rebound, completed the scoring in the second-half.

This is how we reported it: Witton 7-2 Whitby

Odds (bet365)

Witton 8/13

Draw 3/1

Whitby 3/1

Essential information

When Saturday, February 24

Kick-off 3pm

Address Wincham Park, Chapel Street, Wincham, Northwich CW9 6DA

Admission Adults £10, Concessions (OAP/Students) £7, Under 18s £3, Members of HM Armed Forces Free

Parking Free at the ground