ALBION Sports face a tough home fixture in the Toolstation Northern Counties East League Premier Division as they look for their first victory of 2015.

In-form second-placed Cleethorpes Town, who have got within five points of one-time runaway leaders Tadcaster Albion, visit Throstle Nest.

Albion have played just one game since before Christmas, and manager Kulwinder Sandhu is hoping he has more players to pick from than he did when they lost 2-0 at struggling neighbours Liversedge on January 3.

He said: “We should have won that day. It was a travesty that we didn’t and we had a few of our big players missing. Matt Mathers was unavailable and Alex Cusack, who is normally good for a goal, was full of flu.

“We have been troubled by things like that all season – with players missing here and there – so I’m never able to name my best team or to keep any consistency selection-wise.

“It’s been frustrating but the best thing that’s happened is that we’ve been able to keep hold of Danny Facey. Tadcaster put seven days in for him a couple of weeks before Christmas, and they chased him for about three weeks, but we managed to keep him.”

Facey and Karl Hall have been the influential goal-getters during Albion’s rise up the ranks over the past few seasons.

Sedge are a lowly 16th as they host Athersley Recreation, who are just four places above them, in a lower mid-table battle.

Ring-rusty Thackley have played just one game since December 2 but they will still be hoping for a rare away win. The Dennyboys travel to rock-bottom Nostell MW.

In Division One, Eccleshill United will be looking to put Wednesday’s 2-0 defeat at promotion-chasing AFC Mansfield behind them when they host Hall Road Rangers.

The Eagles are three places higher than their visitors and boast an eight-point advantage.

There is a big derby in the North West Counties League Premier Division, with Silsden making the short journey to long-term rivals Colne for a Roses derby. The Cobbydalers would leapfrog Colne with a win.