Why should I watch..?

To see who reacts best following an enforced break from playing over the past fortnight.

Neither of these two teams have played at all during March, and both are desperate to collect maximum points to boost their respective bids to be promoted this season.

Carl Macauley’s men are unbeaten in their past seven Premier Division fixtures – their longest unbeaten sequence this season – and have lost only one of the past 10.

That run includes a 1-1 draw in the return before Christmas.

Visitors Shaw Lane have more games to play than anybody else in the Northern Premier League’s top-flight – 17 – before the end of the campaign.

The Ducks have lost just one of their past seven matches away from home.

What they’ve said

“It’s great for us as a newly-promoted club to find ourselves in the position we are at this stage of the season.

“We’re in contention to reach the play-offs, and that in itself is an indication of just how well this side has adjusted to playing at a higher level.”

Mark Harris, Witton Albion chairman

Numbers game

No rival has collected more points than Witton or Shaw Lane in the past six matches – both have totalled 14

Witton team news

Striker Will Jones is suspended still following his dismissal in a 3-2 win at Matlock last month.

Meanwhile Anthony Brown continues to rediscover match sharpness during a loan spell in the North West Counties League’s Premier Division with City of Liverpool.

Everybody else is available.

Shaw Lane team news

Kelvin Lugsden and Jake Skelton are both banned.

Manager Paul Quinn has been busy adding to a squad that still has 17 league games to play, and has recruited goalkeeper Harry Stead, wide man Tyler Williams and midfield duo Adam Knight and Dominic Brown-Hill – the latter on loan from Notts County – in the past few days.

Man to keep an eye on

Michael Wilson

Carl Macauley has kept faith with the defender following a string of impressive performances at the heart of Witton’s back-line.

The 23-year-old’s form is so good that Anthony Brown and Nick Ryan –the manager’s first-choice earlier in the campaign – can’t fight their way back into the side after recovering from injury.

His progress will be tested though by vastly-experienced forwards Paul Clayton and Damian Reeves.

Form guide (past six in league)

Witton W W D W D W

Shaw Lane W W D D W W

Most recent meetings

Shaw Lane 1-1 Witton (NPL Premier Division, December 16 2017)

Shaw Lane 1-0 Witton (NPL Division One South, April 11 2017)

Witton 3-2 Shaw Lane (NPL Division One South, February 21 2017)

Remember when…?

These two teams first met at Wincham Park last February?

Witton had the Ducks, unbeaten in winning 14 of their previous 15 Northern Premier League matches, on their knees by the break.

They led 3-0, and referee Barry Lamb’s whistle to signal the interval felt like an act of mercy.

The opening period proved no guide for what was to follow though, and Shaw Lane scored twice in three minutes to re-open the contest midway through the second-half.

However Albion, despite sustained pressure, held on.

The Guardian was there, and this is how we reported it: Witton 3-2 Shaw Lane

Odds (bet365)

Witton 7/5

Draw 5/2

Shaw Lane 7/5

Essential information

When Saturday, March 17

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