NEWTON AYCLIFFE could clinch the Ebac Northern League First Division title when they go to Carlisle City on Saturday.

Brian Atkinson’s side go across the A66 two points clear of second-placed Bishop Auckland, who have just one game remaining, and six ahead of Ashington, who have three games left to play.

Aycliffe’s goal difference is 19 goals better than Ashington’s, so an Aycliffe win will mean that the title race will be over bar the shouting.

An Aycliffe victory will also mean that they have climbed from step seven of the football pyramid to step four in just 14 years.

Jack Naylor is missing because of injury, while Dan Myers will have a fitness test.

Elsewhere, Ashington are at home to second-bottom Thornaby.

Northallerton Town can do their survival hopes a power of good if they can beat bottom club Pickering at Ainderby Road.

Crook Town, who are just about safe, are at West Auckland in a local derby, while Tow Law play their second game in 48 hours at home to Penrith.

In the Second Division of the Northern League, Brandon are at home to Chester-le-Street Town, while Chester-le-Street United face promotion-chasing Boro Rangers. Esh Winning go to Jarrow.

In National League North, Spennymoor Town coach Lewis Dickman insists that his side will still be giving everything over the course of the rest of the season.

Moors’ play-off hopes are just about over and done with after they lost 1-0 at Curzon Ashton on Bank Holiday Monday.

That result means they are eight points below the play-off positions with four games remaining.

“We want to win as many games as we can, and finish as high as we can,” said Dickman.

“Everyone has some personal pride and we want to set a benchmark for what we’re going to be about next season.”

Moors lost to a first-half penalty at Curzon, and Dickman said: “We were really disappointed with the result, and we’ll look back at the end of the season, and think that we should have done better.”

Moors still have the Durham Challenge Cup final against Northern Premier League Premier Division side Hebburn Town to look forward to.

That game will be staged at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light on May 3.