Why should I watch..?

Witton are desperate to halt a sequence that has seen them lose five of their past six Northern Premier League fixtures.

It is a run that has seen them fall from the table’s top spot, to tenth, in the space of the past fortnight.

Manager Carl Macauley will also be hoping that his attacking players rediscover a scoring touch that has seen them fail to find the net in close to five hours of action.

Hednesford are still adjusting to life under Rob Smith following his appointment as manager after Neil Tooth’s departure last month.

The Pitmen have won four, and lost as many, of the eight games since he returned to Keys Park.

However wins against Ashton United and then Matlock in the past week are proof of improvement.

What they’ve said

“Carl Macauley is an excellent manager whose teams always play good football; it will be a tough game as always, but it will be nice to catch up with him again.

“We secured another welcome three points in midweek against Matlock, and after an even first half I felt we were very much on the front foot in the second and played some nice football.”

Rob Smith, Hednesford Town manager

“Confidence is low, and my players have found themselves in an unfamiliar position because they’ve grown so used to winning regularly.

“That’s been a learning experience for some of them, but we can help ourselves by being better at some of the things we do – like defending crosses from set-pieces.”

Carl Macauley, Witton Albion manager

Numbers game

Witton’s defeat at Buxton on Tuesday marks the first time they have lost four successive league games with Carl Macauley as manager

Witton team news

Striker Will Jones is available again after missing a midweek trip to Buxton due to work commitments.

Matty Devine, absent with a hamstring injury after limping off in a 2-1 reverse at Coalville last month, is close to a return.

Man to keep an eye on

Tom Owens

Made his first appearance since returning from a spell living in Australia when Witton went down 2-0 at home to Mickleover last weekend.

The 23-year-old’s stamina and endeavour has stood out already, and his example is one to follow during a poor run of results.

Form guide (past six in league)

Hednesford W W L L W L

Witton L L L L W L

Most recent meetings

Witton 1-1 Hednesford (NPL Premier Division, March 2 2013)

Hednesford 2-1 Witton (NPL Premier Division, October 23 2012)

Hednesford 2-0 Witton (NPL Premier Division, October 11 2008)

Odds

Hednesford 6/5

Draw 5/2

Witton 13/8

Essential information

When Saturday, October 7

Kick off 3pm

Address Keys Park, Keys Park Road, Hednesford, Staffordshire WS12 2DZ

Admission Adults £12 (£11 to stand), Concessions £8 (£7 to stand)

Parking £1 at the ground