On paper it is the Clarets who have the best chance of taking the title as they have picked up 46 points from only 18 games played, although that fixture backlog could take its toll late in the season. In a good game for Carlisle next week though Wrexham face Burnley at home, in a match where someone has to drop some points.
United have it all on to take advantage of that however as they play two matches, in a pivotal week as far as their title challenge is concerned, to get rid of their final game in hand. That being a trip to a particularly in-form Preston side on Wednesday afternoon before another match on the road at mid-table Macclesfield on Saturday lunchtime. The North End game a particularly tough looking one after the fourth-placed Lilywhites defeated Shrewsbury 4-1 at home at the weekend.
Fifth in the division are Port Vale who won 3-1 at Oldham to extend their gap between them and the Latics in sixth. Into the mid-table reaches and Stockport won 2-1 at Rochdale, a first defeat in eight games for the home side, while Macclesfield Town were victorious on the road 3-1 at Morecambe.
Last season's title-winners Walsall also won away from home, 2-1 at Blackpool, while rock-bottom Accrington Stanley went down 3-0 at home to Tranmere, Rovers out of league action next weekend as they face a trip to Grimsby Town in the regional final of the League Cup.
Results in the division on Saturday 14th March
Accrington Stanley 0-3 Tranmere Rovers
Blackpool 1-2 Walsall
Burnley 2-1 Wigan Athletic
Bury 0-1 Wrexham
Carlisle United 1-0 Chester City
Morecambe 1-3 Macclesfield Town
Oldham 1-3 Port Vale
Preston North End 4-1 Shrewsbury Town
Rochdale 1-2 Stockport County
Fixture in the division on Wednesday 18th March
Preston North End v Carlisle United (1pm)
Fixtures in the division on Saturday 21st March
Chester City v Bury
Macclesfield Town v Carlisle United (12.30pm)
Port Vale v Morecambe
Shrewsbury Town v Oldham Athletic
Stockport County v Preston North End
Tranmere Rovers P-P Rochdale, moved to Monday 30th March
Walsall v Accrington Stanley
Wigan Athletic v Blackpool
Wrexham v Burnley
Puma Youth Alliance Cup Regional Finals, Saturday 21st March
Grimsby Town v Tranmere Rovers
Queens Park Rangers v Gillingham
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