JON Macken is in relaxed mood ahead of what looks like being a pivotal weekend for Witton Albion’s play-off hopes.

With four games of the season remaining, Witton sit just a point outside the Northern Premier League West Division’s all-important top five.

Half of those fixtures will be played over this weekend, with a tough-looking trip to third-placed Workington on Saturday followed by an Easter Monday derby as neighbours 1874 Northwich cross town to visit the U Lock It Stadium.

Ahead of the gruelling schedule, Macken is focused on giving his players the best possible chance of coming out of it still in the hunt.

“They’re plugging away and keeping us in with a shout, which is all you can ask for,” he said following Saturday’s 5-3 win over Skelmersdale United.

“We’ve just got to keep playing and trying to win football matches. That’s all we can do and that’s what we’ve been doing all season – we’ve gone into every game trying to win it and believing we can win it.

“We’ve got two tough games coming up next weekend but we’ll prepare for them correctly.

“We’ll give the lads what we think we need and we’ll go into them both looking for three points. What will be will be.”

The derby completes a similarly packed weekend for 1874, who beat/were beaten x-x in their trip to already relegated Ramsbottom United in midweek.

Greens could even do their neighbours a favour ahead of the game given they welcome Clitheroe – one of the sides Albion are trying to hunt down in the play-off spots – to Townfield on Saturday.

In the North West Counties League, Winsford United have a double helping of home fixtures over Easter in the Premier Division.

Lee Duckworth’s men welcome league leaders Vauxhall Motors to Barton Stadium on Saturday before hosting Litherland REMYCA on Easter Monday.

Northwich Victoria and Barnton are not in action until Monday – Vics are on the road at Congleton Town in the Premier Division while the Villagers host Sandbach United at Townfield in the First Division South.

All games this weekend kick off at 3pm.