ANOTHER important weekend lies ahead for our football teams as the busy festive period nears.

Warrington Town are on the road, Warrington Rylands are at home while the season continues for our Cheshire Football League sides.

Yellows appear to be in for a tougher test than the league table suggests on Saturday.

They make the trip to face a Gainsborough Trinity outfit who are currently struggling to move away from the relegation places.

Trinity are third from bottom of the Northern Premier League Premier Division table and have lost their past four games in all competitions – contrast that to a Town side whose only loss since late September came via a penalty shoot-out against Morpeth Town in the FA Trophy last month.

However, Gainsborough’s home record is relatively solid – they have lost only one of their nine league matches on their own turf this season.

Indeed, play-off rivals Buxton and Whitby Town both failed to win at the Northolme earlier in the campaign.

Yellows’ squad is boosted by the return of Mitch Duggan from suspension but there remains a fitness doubt over striker Josh Amis (hamstring) while left-back Eddie Clarke (groin) is a long-term absentee.

 

Yellows have not visited Gainsborough since September 2019 - a game which finished goalless

Yellows have not visited Gainsborough since September 2019 - a game which finished goalless

 

Meanwhile, no team will be relishing a trip to Gorsey Lane at the moment given Warrington Rylands’ recent home form.

Their past two home fixtures have seen Blues score 15 goals, with Ramsbottom United and Prescot Cables beaten 8-0 and 7-2 respectively.

Indeed, no team in the Northern Premier League West Division has picked up more home points than Dave McNabb’s men this season.

 

Warrington Rylands have scored 15 goals in their past two home games. Picture by Mark Percy

Warrington Rylands have scored 15 goals in their past two home games. Picture by Mark Percy

 

The team trying to buck that trend on Saturday is Newcastle Town, who have had their struggles on the road of late as they aim to move away from the lower reaches of the table.

They arrive in Warrington winless in their past five league away fixtures – a run that stretches back to early September when they won 3-2 at Bootle.

The two sides have already met this season, with Blues emerging victorious thanks to two players who are no longer with the Gorsey Lane side.

Ste Milne and Luke Wall scored in the opening quarter for McNabb’s side, who emerged 2-1 winners back in August.

Saturday's fixtures:

Northern Premier League (kick off 3pm)

Premier: Gainsborough Trinity vs Warrington Town

West: Warrington Rylands vs Newcastle Town

Cheshire Football League (kick off 2pm)

Premier Division: Greenalls PSO vs FC St Helens

League One: Moore United vs Cheadle Heath Nomads Res

Reserve League One: Broadheath Central Res vs Daten Res, Eagle Sports Res vs Garswood United Res

Reserve League Two: Crewe FC Res vs Greenalls PSO Res

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