Hinckley AFC make the short journey up the A5 to Atherstone Town tomorrow looking to close the gap on those above them in the table.
Four of the Midland League Division One’s top five face each other as fifth-placed Hinckley take on the second in the table Adders, while table topping Bromsgrove Sporting host Leicester Road, currently third.
And with at least two of the top five guaranteed to drop points this weekend, Carl Abbott’s side will be desperate to ensure they aren’t one of them in the game at Sheepy Road.
The Adders are just a point behind Bromsgrove but have played three games more than the Rouslers and four more than AFC, who are seven points behind them.
And having had their unbeaten home league record ended by Bromsgrove last week, Hinckley will want to return to winning ways against the side immediately behind the league leaders.
Should Hinckley win, they will close the gap on Atherstone to just four points with four games in hand, but they will remain in fifth unless Racing Club Warwick drop points at home to Heath Hayes.
No side has played fewer league games than Hinckley this season but no side has scored more goals, and this weekend’s clash will see the league’s two leading marksmen up against each other: both 35-goal Hinckley skipper Ryan Seal and Atherstone’s Alex Naughton (37 goals in just 26 games) will be on show.
Atherstone’s last three games at Sheepy Road have all finished 5-0, following up a heavy defeat to Littleton with equally comprehensive wins over Coventry Copsewood and Nuneaton Griff.
Last season, there were two tightly contested games between the sides as Hinckley earned a battling 2-0 win at Atherstone in November, before Ivor Green’s side held AFC to a 2-2 draw in March’s return fixture.
Atherstone play at Sheepy Road, Atherstone, Warwickshire, CV9 3AD. The ground is only a short distance from the A5.
