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League Two: Cruisey looks ahead to three of this weekends big games as the promotion and relegation issues start to take s...

By Ian cruise  April 22, 2005

Northampton Town v Lincoln City

Northampton are currently lying one place beneath the play-off zone and they will be desperate to make home advantage tell against a Lincoln side that still harbours hopes of forcing their way into the automatic promotion spots.

The Imps, in fact, need just one more point to confirm their place in the play-offs and they will be keen to pick up that point as soon as possible and then concentrate on an assault on the top three in the remaining couple of games.

They will take one of the division's best away record to Sixfields – only Southend and Wycombe can match Lincolns nine victories on the road – but the Cobblers will make life difficult for them.

The home side has been dealt a blow with the news that captain Ashley Westwood will miss the remainder of the season through injury, but they will be hoping to cope without him as they aim to gatecrash the end-of-season shake-up.

CRUISEY'S VERDICT: Lincoln to get the point they need, leaving Northampton sweating in their play-off bid.

Yeovil Town v Wycombe Wanderers

A key clash that will effect the teams chasing automatic promotion, as well as those aiming for the play-offs. And it pits a team with one of the divisions best home records against the one with the best away record.

Only Southend have collected as many points on their travels this season as Wycombe, but they will need to be at top of their game against a Yeovil side that has been beaten just three times on home soil this season.

Wanderers boss John Gorman has no fresh injury worries and should welcome full back Clint Easton back into the squad, while Yeovil manager Gary Johnson will be wary of the threat poised by veteran striker Steve Claridge, a player he used to manage at Cambridge.

CRUISEY'S VERDICT: With a tough trip to current leaders Southend to come next week, Yeovil can't afford to slip up. And I don't think they will.

Boston United v Kidderminster Harriers

Kidderminster's fate will be sealed by Saturday tea-time if they lose at York Street but, having failed to win any of their last four games, the odds must be stacked against the Harriers pulling off the great escape.

With Cambridge all but down – only a remarkable turnaround involving them winning all three remaining games and Rushden losing all of theirs can save them – Kidderminster look certain to join them in the Conference next season.

Because of their vastly inferior goal difference, they too need Rushden to lose their final trio of games if they are to have any chance of avoiding the drop. If they fail, it will be the first time in the clubs history that they have suffered relegation.

Harriers have slight injury doubts over midfielders Tom Bennett and John McGrath, while Johnny Mullins has returned to Reading after his loan spell was cut short by injury.

CRUISEY'S VERDICT: Kidderminster have put up a brave fight in recent weeks but, sadly for Harriers fans, it's going to prove to be too late, too little.

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