Saturday sees the next round of United Counties Premier Division North fixtures that features some top versus bottom clashes and mid table battles.
AFC Mansfield v Belper United
These two sides have only registered one win apiece from their last five matches and both were on the end of huge defeats last time out. Hosts AFC Mansfield were beaten 7-0 by Deeping Rangers while Belper went down by six to league leaders Sherwood Colliery. AFC Mansfield haven't won since the defeat of Boston Town five games ago and currently sit in 15th spot with 12 points from 15 matches.
Belper United head to the Forest Town Arena in 4th spot but on a poor run of form that has seen them take just four points from the last 15 available.
Prediction
Despite Belper's poor run, I am just going to give them the edge: AFC Mansfield 1-3 Belper United
Eastwood CFC v Loughborough Students
These two sides go in to this match in 6th and 9th respectively and will be holding hopes of forcing their way into the playoff spots. Eastwood go into the game on the back of four wins and a draw from their last five, however only the 2-2 with Skegness Town was a league fixture. Their participation in the cups has left them with games in hand on those above them and they will be hoping to continue the good run now three points are available.
Loughborough have won two and lost three of their last five and sit with 20 points, four outside the top five and three behind their hosts.The Students have also seen their involvment in the UCL Cup and FA Vase ended thanks to Racing Club Warwick and Congleton Town.
Prediction
Eastwood have been flying in the cup competitions, netting 17 times in their last five outings and I can see them coming out on top here: Eastwood CFC 2-0 Loughborough Students
Heanor Town v Boston Town
Boston Town make the two hour journey without a league win since late September and on a run of just one win in five. On the other hand, their hosts head into the game with four wins from five and their only defeat coming at the hands of in form Lincoln United. The two teams sit 10th and 12th respectively but Heanor are six points better off and will hope to continue their good form and push towards the playoff places.
Prediction
Only two places split these sides but I think the home team will come out on top fairly comfortably in this one: Heanor Town 3-1 Boston Town
Lincoln United v Hucknall Town
This is the first of two possible mismatches this weekend as 3rd place Lincoln United welcome second from bottom Hucknall Town to The Sun-Hat Villas and Resorts Stadium. United have been in great from this season following the disappointment of relegaton, winning nine of their 11 league matches and smashing an incredible 26 goals in their last five outings.
The visitors, on the other hand, have taken three points from a possible 15 and lie just a point above bottom side Pinchbeck and their last win coming in September agasint Ashby Ivanhoe.
Prediction
This could be one of those that comes back to bite but I can't see anything other than a resounding home win in this one: Lincoln United 4-0 Hucknall Town
Pinchbeck United v Sherwood Colliery
This is the second of the potential mismatches in this weekend's fixtures as bottom side Pinchbeck welcome top of the table Sherwood to the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field. The home side have already had six, eight and 11 put past them in matches this season and have a goal difference of -48. Pinchbeck's only victory was against fellow strugglers Hucknall Town in a comprehensive 5-0 win.
Sherwood have yet to taste league defeat this season, winning 11 of 13 and having a very impressive goal difference of +37 and smashing six past Belper Town in their last outing. I have watched Sherwood once this season, in their 2-0 home win agasint fellow title chasers Lincol United, and they have a very strong midfield that contains tricky wingers and those willing to run with the ball and have vast experience up front in the shape of Craig Westcarr.
Prediction
There is surely only one winner here: Pinchbeck United 0-6 Sherwood Colliery
Skegness Town v Newark and Sherwood United
The Vertigo Stadium hosts the in form Skegness as they take on a struggling Newark and Sherwood United. The home side have only been beaten by Lincoln United in the last five matches, going home with all three points in the other four outings. Skegness are well positioned in 5th while their visitors are in 14th with only two wins to their name this season.
Kimberley Miners Welfare and AFC Mansfield were dispatched 2-0 and 5-2 in Town's last two league matches with the visitors drawing their last two in the league against Boston Town and Deeping Rangers.
Prediction
I think this will be a tight encounter but I think it will be a home win: Skegness Town 3-1 Newark and Sherwood United
Sleaford Town v Melton Town
Sleaford welcome 2nd place Melton Town on the back of a 1-0 win at home to Wisbech Town that moved them into 8th spot. Melton make the journey having beaten struggling Hucknall last time out and have recently beaten their hosts 5-2 in the reverse fixture.
Melton need a win to stand a chance of keeping pace with leaders Sherwood and keeping themselves above a Lincoln United side who have games in hand.
Prediction
I don't think this will be an easy game for the visitors but I do think they will come out on top: Sleaford Town 2-3 Melton Town
Wisbech Town v Kimberley Miners Welfare
The final league fixture of the weekend is the middle of the table clash between 16th placed Wisbech and Kimberley Miners Welfare who sit 13th. Both sides are in indifferent form and are struggling to find any consistency. The hosts have lost their last three league games by the odd goal.
The visitors head to Cambridgeshire with one win in their last five, with those games not being short of goals! Welfare's last win wasa 4-0 demolition of Belper Town in a game that followed a 3-5 defeat a home to Highgate in the FA Vase. This has all the makings of a well contested class between two mid table sides.
Prediction
Wisbech Town 2-2 Kimberley Miners Welfare
The information has been taken from the United Counties League website, provided by the FA.
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