Non-league previews: Cradley Town defending strong home record

Town are fifth in the division, with a home record of 11 wins from 14 keeping them in touch with the play-off places. 

After an eight-game unbeaten streak, the Hammers fell short against a good Ingles side, but are confident with a fully available squad to choose from. 

On Griff, manager Stuart How said: “Tricky side. They’re a lot like Ingles. They’re teams that are very direct sides. They’ve got a couple of quick forwards.  

“It's a game that, if we've got any aspirations of getting out the playoffs, it's a game that we need to be winning  

“Our home form is excellent, and I think the one thing that we said to the players is: the games that we've lost earlier in the season, when we return, we've got to make sure we get three points back off them. 

“And so far, we lost at Sutton and got the three points back at home, we lost at home to Smethwick and we got the three points back away, and we also lost in our meeting with Griff, so it's a game where we need to try and those three points back. 

“We set a target up for our players to get 84 points at the end of the season, which is two points per game average, which is exactly what we're on at the moment - 52 from 26 we've got.  

“We've got to be winning games like that if we want to be in an around the play-offs at the end of the season but again, you know, we won’t take them for granted and we'll make sure we focus on training and be ready for the weekend. 

“If obviously, we can get the game on with this weather.” 

Elsewhere in Midland One, Smethwick Rangers will be hoping to turn around recent form as they visit struggling Allexton & New Parks, who just slipped into the relegation places. 

Bilston Town have a tougher job getting back into the play-off places as they host Kirby Muxloe, who currently sit third. 

Mid-table Gornal Athletic are up against Leicester St Andrews, whose own games in hand, if won, could put them right back in the title race. 

Brocton could go within a point of the Midland Premier top spot away at Stourport Swifts, while Stone Old Alleynians can close the gap on the top five when they travel to Studley. 

Relegation-threatened Tividale are visited by rock-bottom Wolverhampton Casuals, OJM Black Country are at second-bottom Highgate United and Dudley Town are away at 15th-placed Uttoxeter Town. 

Eccleshall travel to Barnton in North West Counties Division One South, while a win for Wolves Sporting against Cammell Laird 1907 could get them out of the relegation zone. 

Stafford Town are level with Winsford United at the top of the table going into their home game against Ashville. 

Bewdley Town travel to Sporting Club Inkberrow in the Hellenic League Challenge Cup third round.