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The Moatmen sit two points above the relegation zone following their crucial away victory at Sleaford Town last weekend. The win maintained their advantage over resurgent Kimberley Miners Welfare in the final relegation spot, while also enabling Rover to leapfrog Sleaford, who now trail them by a point with just two games of the season remaining for all teams.

Rovers face a stern test against second-placed Eastwood CFC, who maintain their own title ambitions. Trailing Lincoln United by two points, Eastwood face Rovers on Saturday before concluding their campaign at home to Belper United on Monday. Their title hopes received a significant boost last weekend when a 95th-minute equaliser against Lincoln preserved the two-point gap when defeat would have seen it open up to a 5 point gap in Lincolns favour. Victory against Gresley is essential for Eastwood's championship aspirations, as they hope Heanor Town can do them a favour against Lincoln.

Following Saturday's final home match of the season, Norton's side will conclude their campaign with a potentially high-stakes local derby away at Ashby Ivanhoe on Monday afternoon. The chairman believes points will be necessary from both of Gresley's remaining fixtures if his team is to secure survival.

The turnaround under Norton has been remarkable, considering the team's position when former manager James Jepson was dismissed with just six league games remaining. Under Jepson, the team had collected just five points from his 12-game tenure following his appointment in November, managing only one win in mid-December before enduring an eight-game losing streak at the end of his reign.

The interim management team faced a daunting task following Jepson's dismissal, with four of their six remaining fixtures away from home and two against the league's top sides. Prior to Norton's appointment, the team had managed just a single away league victory all season (back in mid-September). with that backdrop in mind the transformation has been spectacular and seen Rovers go on their best run of form for 3 years - with only a 97th-minute equaliser away at then second-placed Bourne Town preventing four consecutive victories and a haul of 12 points from a possible 12. However, Kimberley Miners Welfare, having also changed managers a couple of weeks prior to Rovers, have also seen an impressive resurgence, collecting nine points from their last 15, ensuring the relegation battle will likely go down to the final day.

Adding intrigue to Saturday's clash is Eastwood captain Aaron O'Connor, a former Gresley Rovers legend who netted an remarkable 80 goals in 127 appearances after being signed by then manager Norton in 2004 from Ilkeston Town. Originally a winger, O'Connor was converted by Norton to a striker, and his goals almost guided the club to Step 3 promotion before falling short in the 2006 playoff final at Kendal Town.

Following his 2007 transfer from Gresley to Conference side Grays Athletic, O'Connor enjoyed an illustrious career with several prominent clubs, including Mansfield Town, Rushden & Diamonds, Luton Town, and Newport County, where he scored in their 2-0 Wembley triumph in 2013 that secured Football League status. Since those heady days, O'Connor has also had spells at Forest Green Rovers, Stevenage Borough, Kettering Town, Tamworth, and Basford United before joining Eastwood in 2023.

Norton faces selection challenges ahead of the crucial match against Eastwood, forcing him to make changes to his starting lineup for the first time in four games. First-choice goalkeeper Harvey Woodward, who joined on dual registration from Basford United earlier in the season, has been recalled by his parent club following a concussion injury to their keeper Saul Deeney. Despite Basford's own relegation from Step 3 being confirmed last weekend, they must recall Woodward as one of their registered backup goalkeepers since the registration deadline has passed. Charlie Wood, who previously departed the club but returned under Norton's management and has been on the bench in the last 4 games, will now get his opportunity on Saturday, while Norton evaluates his options for a backup goalkeeper on the bench. Wide player Jack Thatcher will be absent for the Eastwood game due to personal commitments, while 17-year-old Phil Kowalski, who has impressed at right-back in recent matches, will miss Saturday's game due to a family emergency in Germany. Both Thatcher and Kowalski are expected to be available for Monday's fixture. New winger Jude Aytene, who won a crucial 87th-minute penalty in his debut game at Bourne Town at the end of last month, returns to the squad along with midfielder Tarun Rohilla. Oscar McClure is also back available.

Aware of the quick turnaround for Monday's match, Norton is mindful of the demands required on his squad and expects Rovers to need to win Monday's final game of the season at Ashby Ivanhoe to secure safety.

Commenting on the upcoming fixtures, Norton said: "We had so many lads needing treatment on Tuesday we had to cancel training and so will need all hands on deck to get past these next two games and try to pick up the points we still need. Without doubt, we have the most challenging game of the sides fighting against the drop on Saturday, and for this reason, I think things will go down to the wire. It's pretty likely we will need to go to Ashby and try to get the vital result we would still need to get us over the line."

Norton continued, "The lads have been brilliant since we took over considering the situation we came into, and the results have somehow given us at least a fighting chance at avoiding relegation. They have given absolutely everything for us in the last 4 games, and whilst most of our supporters would have hoped 10 points from the 12 available would have provided a bigger buffer to the teams behind us, it’s all credit to Kimberley for also digging deep and taking it to the wire. Last weekend's win at Sleaford was also crucial for both Kimberley and us as it dragged them right into the mix, however it's that tight, unfavourable results on Saturday could easily see us back in the relegation zone before Monday's final matches, and that's the reality. It is so incredibly tight."

He added, "Saturday's match couldn't be tougher for us. Between the sides fighting against the drop, it is without doubt the most difficult, with Eastwood still challenging for the title. Their 95th-minute equaliser against Lincoln last weekend was a lifeline for them, keeping the gap at two points instead of five, and they will be buoyed by that and pushing hard for the win they need to make the most of that lifeline. And of course, we will be going full tilt for the win we so desperately need for our own cause."

Norton concluded, "There's pressure on both teams given what's at stake. We will be doing our best to try and cause some sort of upset and get something from the game, then reassess before Monday's match at Ashby. I hope our supporters come out in force for both matches ï¿1/2¿1/2" we'll certainly need as many of them as possible to be our 12th man more than ever."