Alfreton Town vs York City preview: How to watch, kick-off time, predicted lineups, team news and ones to watch

Alfreton Town are top of the form table in National League North, and despite having minimal chance of promotion with six games remaining, they are giving it their best shot.

Billy Heath's Reds got off to a tough start in this campaign but things are starting to peak, with his side forming a roadblock against five playoff hopefuls, and another one coming up, in York City.

Talking of The Minstermen, a crucial win over Spennymoor Town kept them in contention for the playoffs, after failing to win any of the last three. A late headed goal from new man Maziar Kouhyar sealed the three points and kept City above The Brewers.

York will travel to Alfreton for the first time under John Askey, and visit the Impact Arena, hoping to continue their good form in Derbyshire. They have a 100% rate when travelling to Alfreton, coming away victorious in all four games.

Team news

Alfreton, with one of the smallest squads in the league, are hardly affected by injury problems at this point of the season. The starting eleven on Monday is anticipated to be a replica of the lineup from the win over Chorley, expect from a possible return for full-back Dwayne Wiley.

York City are also one of the teams that are almost unaffected by injuries, with just two players expected to be forced to the sidelines.

Young defender Josh King has recently returned to training with the first team, which is very positive news following his lengthy spell out with a broken leg. Not being completely match fit, King is relatively unlikely to be included in the matchday 16.

Michael Woods is the other doubt for this away fixture, the experienced midfielder being restricted to just 13 appearances this season, due to recurring injuries. Still recovering from an Achilles tendon injury, manager John Askey has expressed his sympathy for Woods, and labelled it 'soul-destroying'.

Predicted lineups

Alfreton Town: Willis, Clackstone, Wiley, Branson, Sutton, Smith, Ceesay, Lund, Rhead, Southwell, Hobson

York City: Jameson, Duckworth, Kouogun, Brown, Barrow, Wright, Hancox, Dyson, Kouhyar, Willoughby, Donaldson

Ones to watch

Bailey Hobson is the star man at Alfreton by a whole country mile, just 19 years of age and has already banged in 10 goals from midfield. The exciting prospect has played 2,749 minutes of football in National League North this season, more than any other player his age!

Hobson doesn't just score in the league, he also likes to chip in in the FA Trophy too, bagging a hat trick to kick fellow National North side Leamington out of the competition. With a fantastic first touch and a determination to run at defenders, the young midfielder will be looking to carry on Alfreton's fine form as they take on York City.

Mitch Hancox may just be ready to return to his amazing scoring form after a goal against Chorley which claimed an important point last Tuesday.

The experienced midfielder is a star in manager John Askey's eyes and at one stage in his loan at York, had an incredible record of eight goals in just five games. After being ruled out due to illness recently, City fans will now hope Hancox can remain a key part of The Minstermen's playoff battle.

What the managers have said

Alfreton Town manager Billy Heath spoke to the club media following his side's 2-1 win over Chorley, however he wasn't too happy with the refereeing decisions and hopes the game on Monday will be overlooked much better.

"Let's hope on Monday, first and foremost, we get what we deserve on the decisions happening."

Heath wants his players to approach this huge game in the correct manager, where three points would turn The Reds' season around and possibly take them just four points adrift off the playoffs.

"What we've got to do is make sure we recoup. We get the squad together, we see who's fit, we see who's not fit, and just try and have a right go."

"We can't be passive, we've got to keep having a real go at it."

York assistant manager Kingsley James was also sent to speak to the media prior to the Alfreton fixture on Easter Monday.

James made it clear that 37-year-old Matt Rhead is always going to be a threat and won't make it easy for City:

"When Matt Rhead is in any team, it's gonna be a tough game, because he's very strong, very intelligent."

"A tough game, a direct game and they'll set long throw ins up and put us under pressure and we've just got to stand up to that and do what we do in possession."

John Askey's assistant also spoke on how it can be more difficult playing a team with nothing to win or lose:

"I think, when the pressure is off, a lot of players just go out and play, they don't really think about anything, not worried about making mistakes. I think Alfreton are gonna play the same way that they always do."

Previous meeting

York City ended 2021 on a high, beating Alfreton Town 1-0 at the LNER Community Stadium back in December.

Only one goal was needed to win it, and Paddy McLaughlin claimed his second of the season, finishing off a brilliant York counter attack on the hour mark.