Albion Sports face a tough task to hold onto their third place in the Toolstation Northern Counties East League Premier Division when they host Basford United at Throstle Nest on Saturday.

Basford are fourth, with Albion only above them on goal difference. 

However, Kulwinder Sandhu’s men have played four fewer games and have a superior goal difference.

The visitors will be full of intent as a loss could see them drop out of the top eight.

Basford beat Thackley 4-1 last time out, meaning the Dennyboys are also in need of a home win this weekend.

Thackley are sixth but their last league win was in the middle of November. Their only enemy on Saturday, however, should be complacency.

Thackley’s visitors are second-bottom Lincoln Moorlands Railway, the club with the worst goals- against in the division. An 8-1 home defeat last time out pushed their goal difference to minus 106.

The Dennyboys’ recent poor form has set them back but they are just 11 points of the summit with three games in hand.

Brighouse Town also have games in hand but are in need of points.

Town have not played a league game for a fortnight following last Saturday’s postponement and are not even halfway through their season.

However, they remain in eighth spot, ten places above Armthorpe, who they travel to this weekend.

Liversedge make up the local quartet in the top tier and they host Athersley Recreation in a lower-to mid-table battle.

Sedge may be only five places behind their visitors but they trail by 15 points.

Eccleshill United’s shortage of players this month has been well documented but they should have enough quality in their squad to win on Saturday.

They travel to second-bottom Appleby Frodingham, who are three points from safety, in Division One.

A win for the Eagles would not just boost confidence, a victory could see them climb back into third spot should Pontefract (third) and Shirebrook (fourth) only draw.