Our United Counties League campaign resumes this Saturday with part one of a double header against high-flying Rugby Borough. The Warwickshire side come to Bridge Road looking to maintain their 100% away record and sustain their challenge for the league championship in just their second season of Step 5 football. We then travel to Rugby the following weekend for the return fixture.
We were originally scheduled to play Rugby Borough at home last October, but the fixture had to be rearranged due to cup commitments. As a consequence, we have the unusual situation where we play each other on consecutive weekends, but at least both sides will know what to expect when we meet again in seven days’ time.
Along with Aylestone Park and St Neots Town, the Borough have been one of the stand-out sides in the UCL Premier South this season. Their only two defeats have both been at home (v Sileby Rangers and Easington Sports), but their real strength has been their form way from home. Ten matches played, all ten won and just six goals conceded.
On Saturday our visitors will be up against a Stutes side that has lost just one league game at home this season and is boosted by the signing last weekend of Danny Setchell from Corby Town. Last season, this fixture ended in a 6-0 win for the Stutes in what was manager Chris Nunn’s second home game with the club. This time around, Nunny is expecting a much tougher encounter. “We have got a really tough month ahead of us and if we can come out of January in a similar position to where we are now, we will have done well” he says in his programme notes for Saturday’s game. “I know Dave Stringer (Rugby Borough’s manager) and have had some really good battles with him in the past. He is a good manager and will have his team well organized, so to play them back-to-back at home and away is a tough start to the year for us. But we have a good home record and have won five of our last seven league games, so we are mentally in a good place going into the next few games and are up for the challenge.” You can read Nunny’s article in full along with many other features in Saturday’s programme, priced just £2.00.
Kick-off on Saturday is at the later time of 3.00pm. The club bar will be open at 12.30 and will be showing Premier League football on TV (Spurs v Newcastle). Admission is at the usual rates of £10 for adults, concessions £6 and Under 17s £2. Accompanied Under 12s are admitted free. Hot food will be available throughout the afternoon.
With the weather being a little frosty over the past few days, it may be wise to check if the game is still on before travelling to the ground. Confirmation will appear on this website and our other social media outlets on Saturday morning.
