Last time out between the sides, The Greens were knocked out of the UCL Development Cup 4-2, despite Josh Parker and Lewis Smith goals. This matchday however, Sleaford will be looking to get back the winning feeling at home again, after a 0-0 draw with Maltby Main last weekend.

Manager Jamie McGhee reflected on Maltby, where he was equally as pleased to earn a clean sheet as he was disappointed not to score. “We were happy with being hard to beat. But I think certainly in the second half we showed real intent in trying to get the win; it was one of those days where things didn’t quite drop for us. We were in the right areas and probing well, putting Maltby under a lot of pressure, but the ball just kept dropping out of reach or not well enough for better contacts in front of goal”.

⁠Despite the result, the game also caught attention, as McGhee started himself in midfield, a decision that has come naturally to the gaffer. “Personally, I felt like we were a little light in the defensive area for Saturday and the last few weeks needing a bit of calm and experience” he said. “I’ve finally got myself into a better shape fitness-wise, so I felt it was the right decision.

“Moving forward, as I’ve said before, I know my playing days are limited/over, but if we are at worst case short and I need to be an option, I am more of an option now than I was previously”.

Finally, and looking at Stapleford, McGhee expects a similarly tough test to last time, albeit different circumstances: “Stapleford are a good side; they proved that last season and are proving it again this season. They've had games in hand to catch up on and they’ve picked up the points they need from the games in hand and sit just behind us.

“When we played them in the cup, I know both teams experimented with players needing minutes, so the cup game was slightly false. Now, with the league and what both teams’ targets are this season, I expect it to be different to the cup game, and one that will be key for both teams to get a positive result”.

Opposition Look

The Saxons come to Lincolnshire in a good position in the table, one below Sleaford in seventh and only a point behind with a game in hand. Stapleford have been very successful over the past three seasons. After winning promotion from the Notts Senior League in 2025, they finished eleventh in their first UCL D1 campaign.

They backed up a good first season with an even more impressive second one, reaching the playoffs in third, Stapleford’s highest league finish to date. More recently, Town have scored seven points in their last three games. In this run of fixtures, Stapleford beat Dunkirk 4-1, drew with Selston 2-2 and beat Harrowby United 2-0 most recently.