Why should I watch..?

To see if in-form Winsford can pile more woe onto out-of-sorts Ashton Athletic, and climb above them in the North West Counties League’s top-flight table.

Blues have been a team transformed since a 3-0 win at higher-ranked Warrington Town in the Cheshire FA Senior Cup last month, and have lost only one of their past nine matches in all competitions.

Their target this weekend is to complete a Premier Division double over rivals they defeated 2-0 in the return before Christmas.

Meanwhile Ashton have lost their past five games, and six of the seven matches they have played during March.

It is a sequence that has seen them slip to 12th place in the standings.

What they’ve said

“Ashton can mix it with any side in our division, and we’ll expect the progress we’ve made in recent weeks to be examined by a side like that.

“That makes it a big game for us, and while we’ve enjoyed the cup games recently I’ll continue to make clear to the players that we need to pick up points in the league when we can.”

Lee Duckworth, Winsford United player-manager

Numbers game

Winsford have collected only 16 of their 41 points from matches at St Luke’s Barton Stadium – a record they hope to improve during the run-in

Man to keep an eye on

Damian Skolorzynski

The full-back has been one of Blues’ stand-out performers over the past month, during which he has been accomplished at both ends of the pitch.

A willingness to join the attack, where he poses a threat from crosses or by shooting at goal, is matched by a steadiness while defending.

Winsford team news

Danny Kerr is unavailable, while front man Jordan Johnson (knee) is definitely ruled out.

Manager Lee Duckworth rates Scott Taylor as ’50-50’ to feature, and will wait until the last possible moment to decide on the involvement of Perry Bircumshaw, Jamie McLellan and Michael Taylor after they suffered knocks during games over the past week.

Form (past six in league)

Winsford W D W L D L

Ashton L L L L L W

Most recent meetings

Ashton Ath 0-2 Winsford (NWCFL Premier Division, December 5 2017)

Winsford 2-2 Ashton Ath (NWCFL Premier Division, November 19 2016)

Ashton Ath 3-0 Winsford (NWCFL Premier Division, September 27 2016)

Essential information

When Saturday, March 31

Kick-off 3pm

Address St Luke’s Barton Stadium, Kingsway, Winsford CW7 3AE

Admission Adults £6, Concessions (OAP/under 21s) £4, Under 16s £1

Parking Available for free at the ground