Saturday 29th September 2018
FUTURE LIONS UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE-PREMIER DIVISION
A full fixture list in the Premier Division this weekend with the top two, still both unbeaten, facing long away trips. Leaders Daventry Town go to Sleaford Town with The Greens being somewhat unpredictable so far this season. They have slipped down to ninth spot after being fourth recently, but they are capable of giving Daventry a real test if we see the best of Jamie Shaw’s team.
Second placed Pinchbeck United travel to Northampton to face an improving O.N Chenecks at Billing Road. The table suggests an away win, but Chenecks have been in form lately and will be no pushover if The Knights are to keep the pressure on at the top.
Eynesbury Rovers had a tremendous 3-0 win at Deeping last weekend so they certainly won’t fear Rugby Town, but The Valley are a strong side and will be looking for the three points themselves.
Cogenhoe United are fourth and they host eighth place Deeping Rangers at Compton Park. Ryan Dove already has eleven goals this season for the home side, but Scott Mooney isn’t too far behind him for Deeping and we could see a few goals in this one.
Holbeach United got back to winning ways last weekend and won at Sleaford in the cup in midweek while their visitors Leicester Nirvana have just one league win to their name so far so you would probably see this one as a home win.
It’s seventh v sixth at Freeway Park where Oadby Town host Desborough Town. Both sides have lost just once in the league, but Oadby have played two games less.
Peterborough Northern Star have won their last three league games and won’t fear their trip to Kirby Muxloe, although the Leicestershire side are much better on their own patch form-wise.
Winless Rothwell Corinthians have home advantage tomorrow over Wellingborough Town, as do bottom club Whitworth against Harborough Town and both of them really do need to start picking up some points against the sides a few places above them in the table.
Boston Town finally won last weekend, but their trip to Newport Pagnell Town will be a tough one, even if the Swans are struggling for form at the moment.
FUTURE LIONS UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE-DIVISION ONE
League leaders Melton Town travel to bottom club Raunds Town and anything but a conclusive away win would be a surprise, but Raunds are improving after Bob Warby’s departure and they were unlucky to lose on penalties in the KO Cup in midweek. Better times are probably around the corner for the Shopmates, although I can’t see them starting against a very good Melton team tomorrow.
It looks an interesting game at Fernie Fields where Sileby Rangers host third placed Lutterworth Town after both sides went out of the KO Cup in midweek. The Northampton side are suffering a few injury worries at the moment which could swing this one in favour of the free-scoring Lutterworth Town side who scored double figures a week previous with the golden booted Tendai Daire bagging himself a double hat-trick. With second placed Blackstones not in action a win for The Swifts would see them up to second at the very least on Saturday night although they start the day just one point ahead of Sileby.
Anstey Nomads should beat strugglers Huntingdon Town at the Linwood Playing Fields, while Lutterworth Athletic will be favourites to do the same at home to Rushden & Higham United with both the away teams having mustered just a single victory each in the league this season.
Irchester United are enjoying a fine season so far and they will be odds-on to beat a Bourne Town team who have leaked seventeen goals in their last two matches, especially with the game being at Alfred Street.
Birstall United have shown what they are capable of a few times already this season, but have yet to turn it on week in-week out so their game at home to Bugbrooke St Michaels is definitely one that could go either way. The same can be said about Burton Park Wanderers against Aylestone Park in a game between two teams who can beat anyone on their day, but don’t do it on a regular enough basis which is why they are currently sitting in mid table.
Harrowby United, along with Melton Town, were my pre-season favourites before the season got underway, but a couple of early defeats have left them in the bottom half of the table at present. They travel to Thrapston Town tomorrow who are just one place and two points behind.
Holwell Sports lost their manager in midweek after a very disappointing exit from the county cup so their hosts St Andrews better look out for the ‘managerless’ curse tomorrow afternoon. Andrews have yet to win the league so far and although Sports are six points ahead of them, the home may see recent events as a boost to go on and claim their win of the season.
