EAGERLY anticipated top-of-the-table clashes are expected to be the highlight of the football calendar on Saturday.

1874 Northwich and Winsford United both travel to the leading teams in their divisions looking to pick up a result that will help to close the gap.

Chris Herbert’s 1874 visit Lichfield City in The Midland League Premier Division.

Lichfield are 11 points clear of the Greens, who have three games in hand and play Barnton in a friendly at Townfield tonight to keep themselves ticking over having not been in action since Tuesday of last week.

Blues, meanwhile, head to Stafford Town in North West Counties League Division One South.

Second-placed Winsford are currently five points behind their hosts, having played the same number of games.

Elsewhere, Witton Albion and Northwich Victoria will be looking to bounce back after their midweek defeats.

Witton’s three-match winning run ended in frustrating style at Wythenshawe Town on Tuesday night, losing 4-1.

Manager Ben Harrison said that despite being on top for much of the Northern Premier League West game, his side switched off for the two goals they conceded in the first half and poorly managed some other key moments.

Mamadou Djabi levelled matters for Witton two minutes after Isaac Abankwah put Town in front.

Nicholas Hepple restored Wythenshawe’s advantage six minutes later and when Witton faded in the final quarter two further goals were added by Chinedu Uche (68) and George Boyd (77).

Albion, who are now 12th, visit the other Wythenshawe – the one placed fifth in the table – on Saturday, kick-off 3pm.

Vics crashed out of the Midland League Cup on Tuesday, squandering a hatful of first-half chances before falling 2-0 at Uttoxeter Town – a side at the foot of the same division having won only one league game so far this season.

The Trickies will have to wait until their trip to Romulus on Saturday week to put things back on track as they have no fixture this Saturday.

Barnton are home to Market Drayton Town on Saturday, 3pm.