A nervy night for Alty
By Connor Murphy
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ALTY aren't even playing this evening but they have a nervy night ahead of them.
Four Blue Square Premier games which could have a massive bearing on the Robins' season take place this evening.
Survival is no longer in their hands and they will be hoping and praying that results this evening go their way, with margins at the bottom of the table still ridiculously tight.
SAM sports editor Connor Murphy takes a look at the games to watch this evening.
Aldershot Town v Weymouth
At first glance, this doesn't look like a game Alty should be paying much attention to.
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Weymouth's 2-1 win over Kidderminster on Saturday, coupled with Alty's 2-0 defeat at Ebbsfleet, means the Robins can no longer finish above the south coast side.
But, when you look a little deeper, this game could be absolutelty vital to Alty's survival hopes.
Even a draw at the Recreation Ground could be enough to secure Weymouth's Blue Square Premier future, depending on results elsewhere.
Should Weymouth confirm their own survival, it would have a knock-on effect on their final game of the season - which just so happens to be against Alty.
If Weymouth don't need anything from Saturday's clash at the Wessex Stadium, what might have been a desperate fight for survival suddenly assumes little to no importance for them.
Should the Terras understandably relax after avoiding the drop, Saturday's game is set up for the Robins to snatch a result.
Going into the game against Aldershot, Weymouth have won their last two games and are unbeaten in four.
The Shots, meanwhile, have drawn three of their last four and have already been crowned champions. A draw might not be such an unrealistic prospect.
VERDICT: Draw
Crawley Town v Halifax Town
Thanks to their 10-point deduction for going into administration, Halifax were unexpectedly dragged into the relegation dogfight.
But since being pulled in, the Shaymen have seriously struggled to find a way back out.
Their 1-0 win over Ebbsfleet less than two weeks ago had given them hope but since then, they have only managed two points from three games.
That tally included a 0-0 draw against champions Aldershot on Saturday, however - a performance that offered hope for Chris Wilder's side.
But they will have their work cut out for them against a Crawley Town side who have hit form of late.
The Reds have taken 10 points from their past five games - the kind of return you would expect from a play-off contender.
To offer Alty further hope, Halifax are winless in their past five games away from home, which included a 2-0 defeat at relegated Droylsden.
The need to accumulate points is more pressing now but it's still hard to see the Shaymen taking all three home from the Broadfield Stadium.
VERDICT: Home win
Stevenage Borough v Northwich Victoria
On paper, Northwich face the toughest game of all the relegation candidates in action tonight.
Vics face a tough trip to Stevenage, with Peter Taylor's strong team still battling to secure themselves a play-off place.
Defeat to Burton on Friday left Borough three points off the play-off spots and they will do everything they can to catch fifth-placed Exeter before the end of the season.
But Peter Taylor's team have lost five of their past seven games - hardly promotion form - and have conceded six goals in their last two outings.
Northwich are hardly on top form themselves though, having lost two of their past three matches, although they did beat Grays 1-0 last time out thanks to a last-minute strike from Michael Carr.
But, looking at the bigger picture, Vics have been superb since late February, coming back from the dead to give themselves an extremely good chance of survival.
Stevenage's chances are helped by the fact they are at full strength for the game, with no injuries to worry about.
Meanwhile Vics welcome back defender Cortez Belle after suspension - a welcome boost considering Michael welch's continued absence.
VERDICT: Draw
York City v Farsley Celtic
Not only is survival at stake when Farsley travel to York tonight, so are Yorkshire bragging rites.
Their battle against survival will be given a little extra spice by this Bootham Crescent derby and although York have nothing left to play for, they will want to do the double over their county rivals.
The previous meeting between the two sides ended in a 4-1 win for the Minstermen but it is unlikely to be quite so clear cut this time round.
York have lost five of their past seven games and their only win during that spell came at relegated Stafford Rangers.
It is a statistic that will give Farsley hope, even though their own form has not been good.
Since beating Torquay 1-0 at the beginning of April, Celtic have lost four straight, showing absolutely no signs they will be able to extend their stay in the Blue Square Premier.
In those four games, they conceded 12 goals and their wretched defence is unlikely to improve tonight after central defensive lynchpin Amjad Iqbal was ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Farsley should have both James Knowles and Georges Santos available again though, while Stuart Elliot and Darren Kelly return for the Minstermen.
But with York manager Colin Walker calling on his players to go out with a bang at Bootham Crescent, it's hard to see anything other than a home win.
VERDICT: Home win
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