Make or break week for Alfreton Town

The Reds, who are still fourth from bottom of the table after a disappointing 2-1 defeat at Braintree Town last weekend, face back-to-back home games against Aldershot Town this Saturday and Dartford next Tuesday before making the trip to AFC Telford United a week on Saturday.

And if Nicky Law’s side are going to climb out of the relegation zone, they are going to have to seriously buck form trends against all three of their relegation rivals.

This Saturday’s visitors to the Impact Arena are Aldershot Town who arrive in 18th place and are five points better off than the Reds.

The Reds have lost the last two games against the Hampshire club, going down 2-0 at the ESS Stadium back in October, and suffering a 4-1 defeat at the Impact Arena at the back end of last season.

However, an Alfreton win would seriously improve their chances of avoiding the drop and also drag Aldershot back into the relegation fight.

Next Tuesday, Dartford visit Derbyshire for a crucial relegation six-pointer with the sides currently being separated by four points, although the Kent side have a game in hand and the Reds still have to go to Kent for the return fixture in less than a month.

The Reds can be consoled by the fact they have beaten Dartford at home in each of the past two seasons, but they have also lost both away games.

The difficulty of the trip to Telford can be best explained by the fact that the Reds have only scored once at The New Bucks Head in seven previous visits going back to the 2008/09 season, Alfreton managing just two points from a pair of goalless draws.

Meanwhile, Reds manager Nicky Law has continued his squad reshaping.

Law has released midfield man Nathan Hicks from his contract and brought in athletic central mnidfield player Simon Lenighan on loan from Vanarama Conference North club Harrogate Town to the end of the season.

Twenty-year-old Lenighan is a former Leeds United youth player who joined Harrogate on a one-year contract in the summer of 2014.

Whilst at Elland Road he worked his way up through their various teams and was appointed captain of the Under-18s team, helping them to an impressive second-placed finish in the Premier Academy League in 2012/13.

He had a short loan spells with Bradford Park Avenue and FC Halifax Town in the 2013/14 season and has made thirteen league appearances for the North Yorkshire club this season.

Transport

ATFC Supporters’ Association have announced advanced travel details for the game at AFC Telford United on February 28. Transport will depart at 9.30am and seats can be booked by contacting Mark Thorpe on 07857 558401