Reds target play-off spaces

Alfreton on the ball when they played Southport.

The final countdown will see the Reds contesting twelve league games in the remaining 49 days of the season but the side go into the run-in still well in amongst the contenders for the play-off places and they are well-placed to kick-on to put together a serious challenge for one of those spots.

Despite having had their four-game unbeaten run ended in a 3-0 defeat at league leaders and champions-elect Luton Town last Saturday, the Reds are still fourth in the table.

Nicky Law’s side face a tough test at the Impact Arena on Saturday against in-form Lincoln City who have only lost one of their last seven league games and have also won three of the last four, taking ten out of twelve points in the process.

And City will arrive looking for a league double having disposed of the Reds 4-1 at Sincil Bank in early January.

Amongst the Imps ranks is former Reds striker Ben Tomlinson who has netted eleven goals in his last thirteen games for City and has sixteen in total in the league so far.

And despite lying in 14th place, the Imps could still harbour outside hopes of reaching the play-off places themselves if they can keep their recent impressive run going.

For Saturday’s game against Lincoln, manager Law looks set to be without utility player Bradley Wood who picked up a hip injury at Luton which unfortunately ruled him out of the England C team reckoning for the game in Jordan on Tuesday night.

Wood is the only ever-present in the side this season having played all 38 league and cup games.

However, Law could have the boost of having vastly experienced defender Chris Westwood available again after a thigh strain.

Next Tuesday, relegation-haunted Hyde FC are the visitors to Derbyshire for a 7.45pm kick-off.

The Tamesiders are all-but certain to go down and with the pressure off, the Reds will need to guard against complacency as they chase a fourth league double of the season.

Reduced admission

There is reduced admission for young fans for both the Lincoln and Hyde home games with under-16s paying just £1 each so long as they are accompanied by an adult, whilst 16 to 21 year-olds can gain admission for just £5 each.