Crucial games this Saturday for local sides as football season nears end

The rundown on this weekend's football fixtures featuring the local teams

Stevenage – 12^th League Two

Mid-table Stevenage take on 8^th placed Carlisle at home this Saturday with the aim of staging a late push for the play-offs. The North-Herts side are currently five points off the play-offs with five games remaining. A win tomorrow is a must if they are to have any hope of sneaking into the play-off places but Stevenage will feel encouraged after last week’s confident away win over Grimsby and the fact that Carlisle, who have four points more than tomorrow’s hosts have been stuttering of late and have not won away since January.

The Lamex Stadium, Broadhall Way, Stevenage, Herts, SG2 8RH

Barnet – 12^th National league

Barnet face 5^th placed Wrexham at The Hive this Saturday knowing that anything other than a win will mathematically end any possibility of a play-off place this season as they are currently eleven points off with four games remaining. Barnet come off the back of a disappointing 2-1 defeat against relegation threatened Maidstone United last Saturday, but will take some confidence into tomorrow’s game knowing that their Welsh opponents have lost their last three away fixtures. 

Barnet have struggled for goals in the league season, averaging less than a goal a game. Without the threat of relegation and a very unlikely chance of promotion the fans of the Bees will be hoping their team plays with more freedom in their remaining four fixtures.

Hive Stadium, Camrose Avenue, Edgware, HA8 6AG

Boreham Wood – 19^th National League

Boreham Wood travel up to Yorkshire for a tricky fixture against promotion chasing Harrogate Town, who currently occupy 6^th position. Boreham Wood have been in poor form all calendar year, managing only two league wins since the turn of the year.  Another win from their remaining four fixtures will more or less seal their place in the division for next season as they currently sit nine points above the relegation zone. However, they face two more games against promotion chasing sides Salford City and Eastleigh as well as a tough trip to Chesterfield.  They may have to rely on the results of the other relegation threatened sides to secure a National league place for the 2019/2020 season.

St. Albans City – 10^th National League South

St. Albans City also face a difficult looking match this Saturday as they head to 5^th placed Bath City with the hope of sneaking into a play-off position.  St. Albans go into this game on a high after defeating 4^th placed Chelmsford City 3-1 at Clarence Park, with club top goal scorer David Mayo netting a brace. The striker will have to be at his best once again if The Saints are to get a positive result as they come up against the league’s strongest defence who have conceded just 33 times in 38 games.

A win tomorrow will also ensure a better placed finish than arch-rivals Hemel Hempstead, who managed to edge the Saints to a play-off spot last season.

Hemel Hempstead Town – 14^th National League South

The Tudor’s face relegation battling Truro at Vauxhall Road tomorrow in a game that can take the Cornish side out of the relegation zone with a game in hand should they win. Relegation is not completely off the cards for Hemel either, but a win in tomorrow’s game should be sufficient to mathematically secure their place in the National league South for the sixth straight season. Last week’s 2-1 defeat at Oxford City leaves them 13 points off the play-offs with four games remaining, making it impossible this season. Hemel will be looking for a strong end to 2018-19 to put them in good stead for a promotion push next year.

Vauxhall Rd, Hemel Hempstead HP2 4HW

Kings Langley - 5^th Southern League Premier Division South

The village side have punched above their weight this season and find themselves in the last play-off spot with four matches left to play. Despite almost being relegated last year they encounter a difficult challenge away at Taunton Town. The Langley will be hoping that the team from the South-West will be in their flip flops having already secured their play-off place and will also be determined to get back to winning ways after a disappointing defeat at home to Swindon Supermarine last Saturday. Kings Langley have Poole Town, who are three points behind with a better goal difference waiting for a slip up but Langley will be confident of securing themselves a place in the play-offs as they come up against bottom half teams in their last three fixtures.