Non-league previews: AFC Bridgnorth not afraid of the leaders

The Meadow Men travel to Nuneaton on Saturday (3pm) off the back of a dominant 2-1 win against Stapenhill in Midland League Division One, where a brace from Kosheen Sappelton helped them move 10 points clear of the relegation zone.

It is their third successive win since switching to a 3-5-2 system. News of the successful performances has spread, as players struggling for game time in step four and five have been in touch. 

Griffiths said: “My phone has been red hot since Sunday. We've got players who want to play for us now and not us begging players to come and play, and it's a nice situation to be in, if I'm quite honest.

“We've got a couple of players in mind, really for next season, but they want to come and see what we’re about now, and it's hard because the lads have done well. So, I've spoken to them and said, ‘Look, we can't just get you straight in the squad'.”

Nuneaton are seven points clear at the top, with the most goals scored and least conceded, but Griffiths has already spotted a weakness in the title favourites.

“We’re not going there to just be rolled over, get our bellies tickled and come away, we're not about that now," he said. “We're about fighting for every ball and competing. And if we compete, then I think we'll give them a game. I know they concede a lot of goals, and they conceded two against Paget Rangers on Saturday.”

Since Griffiths’ arrival early in the season, Bridgnorth have moved on from a winless streak which left them five points adrift in late October, to now hoping to break into the mid-table pack.

“Like I say, we're not a team to just roll over now," he added. "I think we've had one really bad result since I've took over, and that was Bilston away when it was 4-1, and I was disappointed with that. 

“But it's a totally different team now, different personnel. I don’t think it will be, and I’m certainly hoping, it's not going to be six or seven against us, because we're not about that now.

“We're about fighting for everything and being a close game for everybody to be fair."

Title-chasing Shifnal Town clash with AFC Wulfrunians in the Midland Premier, where a win could close the gap to leaders Lichfield City.

Seventh-placed Whitchurch Alport travel to Stone Old Alleynians with hopes of challenging the play-off places. It comes after Alport beat North Shields 2-1 to progress to the quarter-finals of the FA Vase.

In North West Counties League Division One South, Shawbury United have a tough test as the side five points adrift of safety at the foot of the table host second-placed Stafford Town. Allscott Heath are hosts for their relegation six-pointer against rivals Barnton.

Ludlow Town are at home against Shortwood United in Hellenic League Division One, where a loss could see them drop into the bottom half of the table.

Telford Town are in West Midlands League action on the road at Stourbridge Standard. Town are 12 points clear at the top of the Premier Division ahead of the fixture, having not lost in the league since mid-August.