SIGNIFICANT fixtures in three clubs’ bids for promotion are to be played out over the next week.
Results of matches slated for Northwich Victoria, 1874 Northwich and Winsford United in the Midland League Premier Division this weekend and next Tuesday could have a huge impact on the success of their league campaigns.
Vics lost top spot on Tuesday night, due to their 3-3 draw at Whitchurch Alport being bettered by Hanley Town’s 2-1 win against Coton Green which means the Stoke side now have a one-point lead at the summit.
A mouthwatering meeting is therefore in store between second-placed Vics and Hanley at the Apec Taxis Stadium, Runcorn, on Saturday, in what, on the face of it, looks like a two-horse race for the title.
But Winsford United are very much in the fight for play-offs places three to five and could yet come into the champions reckoning if the top two slip up and Blues beat them both in the season’s remaining fixtures.
Winsford, who host Vics at Barton Stadium on Tuesday, moved up to sixth as they stretched their unbeaten run of league matches to seven in midweek with a 2-1 home success against Stourport Swifts.
That leaves them two points outside the play-offs, 14 points behind Vics, but with at least three games in hand on all the sides above them.
1874 remain in the fight, too.
Currently fourth, two points clear of the chasing pack outside the top five, they head to 10th-placed Coton Green – who are also still in the promotion mix four points behind – on Saturday and then visit eighth-placed Brocton on Tuesday.
In what is a continuing thrilling jostle for positions in this division, Vics will be kicking themselves that they dropped two points at Whitchurch.
They looked to be in control at half time but needed an Adam Bott thunderbolt to rescue a point in the seventh minute of added time. AJ Leitch-Smith and Matt Harrison scored the goals that had given them a 2-1 lead.
Over at Winsford, it was kipper Steve Jenyons’ fourth goal in three games in the 87th minute that kept their promotion push on track against Stourport, who had equalised in the 71st minute after Ollie Pope had opened Blues’ account in the 16th minute.
Witton Albion, meanwhile, travel to Clitheroe on Saturday.
Share