Why should I watch..?

To see if Witton can kick-start a positive run of results after losing three of their past four matches – all of them against the leading teams in the Premier Division.

Albion also need to address a disappointing home record that has seen them win only twice in the Northern Premier League this season at Wincham Park.

They have won just one of their past nine games there.

Matlock, ninth in the table, will be a testing opponent despite losing in successive outings against Gainsborough and Lancaster without scoring.

The Gladiators took only one point from the teams’ meetings last season, which included a six-goal thriller in Northwich that ended with the scores level at 3-3.

What they’ve said

"The fixture list is relentless, and so we've been grateful not to have a game in midweek so that lads can receive treatment on injuries.

"I hope the players are encouraged by their performances in the past couple of weeks even if results haven't gone our way.

"The important thing now is to try and put a run together and climb the table."

Carl Macauley, Witton Albion manager

“I don’t like losing, and back-to-back defeats don’t sit well with me, but we don’t become a bad team overnight.

“I can sleep easily in the knowledge that our players are giving everything.

“In the past two games we’ve been found wanting at both ends of the field but the effort has certainly been there.”

Dave Frecklington, Matlock Town manager

Numbers game

Matlock haven’t kept a clean-sheet in any of their past 10 Northern Premier League matches – a sequence that started in early November

It’s an important afternoon for…

Will Jones

The front man turns 29 on Sunday, and would love to mark the occasion with a goal.

He has been decisive already for Albion in 2019, scoring the winner at Nantwich on New Year’s Day.

Witton team news

Midfielder Billy Smart starts a two-match suspension as punishment for his reaction to being sent off during a 1-0 win against Lancaster back in November.

Danny McKenna returns after missing last Saturday’s narrow defeat against South Shields, but Josh Wardle (hip) is an injury doubt.

Chris Noone (knee) and Nick Ryan (leg) are long-term absentees.

Matlock team news

Harry Vince and Shaun Harrad have both left Causeway Lane this week, while Greg Tempest has arrived from Basford.

The Gladiators are optimistic they will have long-term injury absentees Michael Williams and Tom Davie available again along with captain Adam Yates who was prevented by an illness from playing in last Saturday’s defeat at Lancaster.

Form guide (past six league games)

Witton L W L L W W

Matlock L L D W W W

Disciplinary

Witton Y45 R2

Matlock Y41 R2

Last season’s meetings

Matlock 2-3 Witton (February 17, 2018)

Witton 3-3 Matlock (November 18, 2017)

From the archive…

Witton beat Matlock on home turf to progress to the Northern Premier League Premier Division promotion play-offs final in April 2007

It was more than 10 years ago, and Mike Moseley leapt high in extra time to finally end Matlock’s challenge before Adam Warlow’s goal sealed a 4-2 victory.

Jim Vince’s side had missed out on the title in the most agonising circumstances the previous Saturday, when they failed to score enough goals in a win against lowly Frickley to prevent Burscough from claiming first prize.

The Guardian was there, and this is what we wrote: Witton 4-2 Matlock: match report

Odds (Bet Victor)

Witton 6/4

Draw 11/4

Matlock 6/4

Essential information

When Saturday, January 12

Kick-off 3pm                                         

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

Admission Adults £10, Concessions £7, Under 21s £5, Under 16s £2

Parking Available for free at the ground