IT is another critical weekend for our football teams as the Christmas period approaches.

Warrington Town and Warrington Rylands both play their final games before the festive schedule, while Saturday also sees the last round of Cheshire Football League fixtures of 2021.

Yellows’ last home game of 2021 sees them aim welcome Scarborough Athletic to Cantilever Park.

Mark Beesley’s side will be looking to extend their unbeaten league run to 11 games – a win will see them head into Christmas inside the play-off spots while anything else opens the door for sixth-place Whitby Town, who are one point behind and host bottom side Grantham Town on Saturday.

The visitors’ form has been inconsistent but they arrive in Cheshire on the back of an impressive 2-0 victory over Town’s promotion rivals Bamber Bridge last time out.

Scoring both of the Seadogs’ goals that day was in-form attacker Luca Colville, who has five goals in six games since making his debut last month.

The sides have already met this season, with Yellows slipping to a 2-0 defeat on the North Yorkshire Coast in August’s reverse fixture.

Meanwhile, Rylands have a promotion showdown in the Northern Premier League West Division as they travel to Leek Town.

Blues sit second in the table and will look to further entrench themselves in the play-off spots as well as holding onto the coattails of leaders Marine, who are five points clear with a game in hand.

Dave McNabb’s side head to Staffordshire looking for a fourth straight win, with their previous three successes seeing them score 17 goals.

Their hosts are in a unique position to mount a promotion charge – only goal difference keeps them outside the play-offs and 13 of their 19 remaining fixtures are home games.

In the Cheshire Football League, three of our teams – Greenalls PSO, Eagle Sports and Moore United – are scheduled for action.

Saturday’s fixtures in full:

Northern Premier League (kick off 3pm):

Premier: Warrington Town vs Scarborough Athletic

West: Leek Town vs Warrington Rylands

Cheshire Football League (kick off 2pm):

Premier Division: Greenalls PSO vs Lostock Gralam, Whaley Bridge Athletic vs Eagle Sports

League One: Styal vs Moore United