ALBION Sports face a tough test at Staveley MW on Saturday as they look to stay in the top eight of the Toolstation Northern Counties East League Premier Division.

Kulwinder Sandhu’s men would move to within a point of fifth-placed Staveley with a win but the home side have their own agenda. They are desperate not to lose touch with the clubs above them.

Staveley hope to keep everyone up to second-placed Shaw Lane within striking distance.

Merely avoiding defeat to Albion will not be good enough as they trail Shaw Lane by seven points but have two games in hand, so they will be going all out for the win that will maintain the pressure.

Albion enjoyed a win in the League Cup in midweek and have won three of their last four league games.

The only blemish in that run was last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at runaway leaders Tadcaster Albion, Sports cursing their luck as Taddy won two penalties in the last eight minutes to steal the points.

Thackley are the only one of the four representatives in the NCEL to have home advantage, and they also have the psychological advantage.

The Dennyboys host Retford United in a quick turnaround after the reverse fixture last Saturday.

Ryan Farrell struck the only goal as the Dennyboys returned with all three points and opened up a five-point gap over fifth-from-bottom Retford.

Liversedge travel to Pickering Town, who are three places higher but only one point better off and have played a game more.

Sedge have played less than many of their rivals in a cluttered mid-table, and there are just four points separating tenth-placed Bridlington Town from 16th-placed Sedge.

There is a repeat of last season’s League Cup final in Division One as Eccleshill United travel to Knaresborough Town, who won last season’s showpiece at Valley Parade on penalties.

Silsden head to the artificial surface at Stockport Sports in the North West Counties League Premier Division.

The Cobbydalers are finding wins hard to come by and have tumbled to 14th, just five places above their hosts.