Sedgley Park aiming to close in on top two

Third placed Sedgley Park have the chance to move into the top two of National Two North this weekend as they continue to crank the pressure up in the promotion race.

Sedge have been in and around the promotion scene for the last couple of years at this level and are once again aiming to challenge for a spot in National One as we hit the halfway point of the 2016/17 campaign.

Dean Schofield’s men a take on Chester this Saturday and they are just two points behind second placed Sale FC, who travel to Preston Grasshoppers tomorrow looking to maintain their stay in the top two.

League leaders Caldy will be focused on themselves this weekend as a nine point lead at the summit, which they created for themselves last week by beating Sale, means another victory tomorrow at home to Wharfedale will see the Wirral side go into 2017 top of the tree.

Elsewhere this weekend, Tynedale, South Leicester, Otley and Harrogate will be looking to extend their excellent recent runs while it is arguably a must win for both sides when Scunthorpe welcome the Luctonians to Yorkshire.

Caldy v Wharfedale

Caldy look set to be in a race for the title this season. The Wirral side have been building and strengthening their position in this division over the last few seasons, but following a 13 match unbeaten run in this campaign, they’ve sent out a huge message to the rest of the league that they are serious contenders for promotion this term.

Currently, Simon Verbickas’ side sit top of the National Two North table after 14 rounds and hold a nine point gap between themselves and the rest of the field. Caldy have had some tough examinations of their title credentials over the last few weeks with games against Sale FC, Stourbridge and Leicester Lions, but they have passed all of them with flying colours. Now, they must stay focused and carry their excellent form into the New Year, starting with a victory over Wharfedale.

Wharfedale have been performing below par this season so far. James Doherty took over the reins at The Avenue in the summer, but soon realised the long list of injuries his side had heading into the new season. With that in mind, the side relegated from National One in May have had a shaky first-half of the campaign, but things are now looking up for Dale.

They travel to Cheshire tomorrow out of the relegation zone for the first time since the opening few rounds of the season and that is down to back to back home wins against Scunthorpe and Chester. The Yorkshire outfit have picked up four victories this term which leaves them 12^th in the table, but none of those wins have come on their travels. Can Doherty’s men upset the applecart this weekend by ending their six game losing streak on the road?

Preston Grasshoppers v Sale FC

Preston Grasshoppers are really struggling in National Two North so far this season, but it seems as though they just need to tweak a couple of aspects in their game to turn their campaign around. Garth Dew’s men slipped to the bottom of the table last weekend for the first time this term, but once again they lost by a narrow margin which has been a common theme for the men from Lightfoot Green.

They have lost eight games this season by 10 points or less which shows they certainly have the capabilities to start turning these narrow defeats into victories. They welcome Sale to Lancashire this weekend looking for their fourth win of the season and their third triumph at home. The Hoppers currently sit three points from safety with a game in hand, so a victory could see them jump out of the bottom three.

Sale FC are one of a handful of teams in with a chance of promotion this season and I don’t think may followers of National Two North would have expected that. Johnathan Keep’s side have had a remarkable turnaround following a tense relegation fight last year and are well and truly in the mix for a shot at National One.

The men from Heywood Road have already enjoyed some excellent moments this season including home wins against Sedgley Park and Stourbridge, however they must bounce back from their defeat to title rivals Caldy. That loss last weekend leaves Sale nine points off the summit, but more importantly just two points inside the top two places. They head to Lightfoot Green in search of their fifth away victory of the term and they will fancy their chances of consolidating second place in the table this weekend.

Chester v Sedgley Park

After a difficult start to the season, Chester were once again enjoying life in National Two North. During October, they picked up five straight victories and had their sights set on a top two spot, but all that momentum generated has now fizzled out. The men from Hare Lane have found it tough to recreate that form in recent weeks which has led to them falling away from the promotion race.

Since the end of October, the Cheshire outfit have won just one of their last five matches which is reminiscent of the poor run of results they went through at the beginning of the campaign. After 14 matches played, Chester now sit seventh in the table and 12 points off second placed Sale FC as we hit the halfway point of the season. It doesn’t get much easier for them this weekend as they host an in-form Sedgley Park side, but can they bounce back in style with an important win this fixture?

Sedgley Park sit 10 points and four places above Chester at the moment and unlike their hosts, they are firmly in the promotion hunt. Sedge have once again enjoyed a strong season at this level which has seen them accumulate nine wins so far and leaves them sitting on the cusp of a top two spot heading into the Christmas break.

Dean Schofield’s men had been going through a tough spell of three defeats in five during October and November, but back to back wins has kept them very much in touch with the play-off place. They take the trip to Chester this Saturday having not won in their last four away matches and they’ll know that needs to change if they are to continue their charge towards possible promotion.

Tynedale v Stourbridge

Tynedale are enjoying a decent season so far in National Two North. Tyne are currently on a run of four straight victories which has seen them rise up to eighth in the table and this good form comes after just three wins from their opening 10 matches of the campaign.

Victories over the Luctonians and Sheffield Tigers in their last two games would have boosted confidence further amongst the Tynedale ranks and they will have certainly turned a few heads in the division after this positive change in form. Scott Lawson’s men are back at Corbridge this weekend looking for their fifth home victory of the season and they will also be aiming to extend their winning run to five matches.

Stourbridge have been in and around the top two places for the majority of the season so far. The Midlands side are performing strongly once again this term, but the reason they are currently sitting fourth in the table is solely down to their results at Stourton Park. Stour have achieved nine victories in this campaign which leaves them eight points off second place, but eight of those wins have all come at home.

Now the task for Neil Mitchell’s men is to start translating their excellent performances at home into their matches on the road if they harbour any hopes of challenging for a promotion place. Their only win on their travels this season came in Round Two against the Luctonians so Stour will be eager to recapture that result this Saturday to begin putting an end to their away day woes.

Hinckley v Leicester Lions

Hinckley have had an impressive first-half of the season in National Two North. Following promotion via the National Three North play-off in May, the Midlands side began the season with just one victory from their first seven matches, but they have been able to turn their fortunes around dramatically since then and as we approach the Christmas break, they are in good form.

Since round eight, the men from Leicester Road have won six of their last seven matches which has moved them out of the relegation zone and up to 10^th in the table. More importantly for Chris Campbell and his side is that they are 12 points clear of the bottom three heading into a tough fixture tomorrow. Hinckley face Sale FC next week too, but their focus will be on gaining another victory in this local clash with Leicester Lions and continuing their excellent run of results.

Leicester Lions are performing as expected in National Two North so far this term. The Lions find themselves fifth in the table after 13 matches and they could go back to within touching distance of the top two with a win against near neighbours Hinckley and they could really do with a victory.

Having been firmly in the promotion hunt at one stage, Leicester Lions suffered two consecutive defeats and they come into this fixture having won just one of their last three outings. That doesn’t sound too bad, but it has been enough to see them fall nine points behind second place. Andy Key’s side do have a game in hand though and also returned to winning ways last week against Otley so they will be keen to taste victory once again as we approach the Christmas break.

South Leicester v Sheffield Tigers

South Leicester appear to be a side that is on a journey of progression in National Two North. The Midlands side were promoted to this level in 2015 and flirted with relegation at times last season, but I am sure they have surprised followers of this division in this campaign due to the fact they currently occupy sixth place in the table.

South are good value for it too. Despite picking up just six wins this term (which is the lowest amount of victories in the top 10) they have secured the most bonus points in the division (13) which highlights their character and determination. The men from Welford Road host Sheffield Tigers this weekend aiming for just their third home victory of the season, but they will be seeking another triumph to stretch their overall current winning streak to three matches.

Sheffield Tigers seemed like they were coping very well with the step up to National Two North following their promotion. The Tigers managed four wins from their opening eight games, in a run which even included a victory over Sedgley Park.

However, recent form for the Yorkshire side has been a real cause for concern as they’ve lost their last six matches and have also picked up just two points in that time. With this in mind, Sheffield now sit 13^th in the table and are only outside the bottom three on points difference. Can they recapture their early season form to earn a first victory since October 22^nd when they travel to the Midlands this weekend?

Otley v Harrogate

Otley look set for another season challenging for a strong top-half finish in National Two North. The Yorkshire outfit certainly have enough quality in their squad to achieve a top eight finish this term and what is key for them is that they continue with the recent consistency which they have been able to generate.

Otley had been on a run of three straight wins prior to their narrow defeat against Leicester Lions last weekend, but despite that loss, they are currently going through their best spell of form so far this season. Their home form is the main reason why Otley occupy ninth place as things stand. They have won all six of their games at Cross Green this term having only picked up one victory on the road. With this in mind, Otley will be hoping home advantage is with them once again this weekend as they aim to end the year in positive fashion.

Making the short trip to Cross Green this Saturday is a Harrogate side that currently sit just inside the relegation zone. ‘Gate are occupying a disappointing 14^th place as we hit the halfway point of the season, but they are only in the bottom three on points difference after a turnaround in results.

In their last five fixtures, David Doherty’s men have picked up three victories which has seen them go from rock bottom of this division to the cusp of safety. Vital wins against Preston Grasshoppers and Wharfedale have been key to that, but all three of those triumphs have come at home. If Harrogate are to move out of the relegation zone this Saturday, they need to achieve their maiden away win of the season against a side unbeaten at home.

Scunthorpe v Luctonians

Scunthorpe have already experienced the high points and the low points in National Two North this season. After being crowned champions of National Three Midlands last term, the Greens appeared to be settling down well at this level with four wins from their first eight matches, but since then, the tough campaign which the Yorkshire side may have expected as come to fruition

They prepare to welcome the Luctonians to Heslam Park on the back of six straight defeats which has seen Scunthorpe fall into the relegation zone and now they are two points adrift of safety as we which the midway point of the season. Their last win came on October 22^nd against Harrogate with their last home victory occurring a week before that. Scunthorpe will be hoping to end this drought without a win here and that could take them out of the bottom three.

The Luctonians are seriously struggling for form in National Two North this term. A long list of injuries hasn’t helped Alex Davidson’s men, but they head to Yorkshire this weekend having won just one of their last eight games which has seen them slip down to 11^th place in the league standings.

The Lucts had begun the season in decent form as they won four of their first six matches, but the Herefordshire side have found it tough since then. They are now nine points ahead of the relegation zone and are currently in their worst from for 14 months. Their last victory came in Round 10 at home to Preston so Davidson and the rest of his team will be keen to stop the rot sooner rather than later.