The Greens indifferent start to the year has been put firmly behind them with four wins in their last five games, the only blot inflicted upon them was by one of the title favourites Anstey Nomads in narrow circumstances three weeks ago. Wins over Wisbech Town, Boston Town and Heanor Town culminated in an impressive 2-1 comeback victory over Belper United last weekend at The Longwater Stadium, a result made all the more satisfying by Belper’s ability to take a point off Anstey Nomads in midweek. The visitors were determined in their approach in NG34 last Saturday and frustrated the Greens for much of the contest, particularly in taking a 47th minute lead when Jack Tyson rifled home from the edge of the box. The Greens response was emphatic though and they were level less than 10-minutes later when Charlie Ward headed home Mitch Griffiths freekick from the left. A series of chances came and went for the hosts but just as it looked set to be a frustrating afternoon for the Greens, the ball fell to Jacob Fenton from Ryan Rushen’s knockdown and he powered home in the 84th minute to claim all three points.

With a busy spell of fixtures incoming, Player/Manager Tom Ward will have been pleased to see the returns of a plethora of his star players last weekend. Ryan Rushen and Joe Smith changed the game for the Greens last Saturday, and Ward may be looking to utilise the pair of them this weekend, while Ward himself may be set for a return following a spell on the side lines with a hamstring problem. Joe Butler is now suspension free and will be hoping to force his way back into the squad, but faces stiff competition in the form of Ryan Flitton. Ward will check on the fitness of his brother Charlie Ward after his captain limped off midway through the second half last weekend, while doubts also remain over Max Ward following an injury picked up at Heanor Town a fortnight ago.

Hosts Heather St. Johns meanwhile are suffering a poor season in what is their second full campaign at step five level. A summer exodus of the manager and players that took the Saints to a 6th placed finish in United Counties League Premier Division North last season has left the Leicestershire outfit fighting for their lives at the bottom of the table - having recorded just two victories all season. Vitally though, both those three point hauls have arrived at the expense of Selston FC, the side keeping Heather off the bottom of the Premier Division North table. One of these triumphs arrived just last midweek to haul the Saints within four points of AFC Mansfield who occupy a position of safety, while the return fixture back in November saw Heather record a 2-0 victory at St. Johns Park.

Hopes are high around St. Johns Park that a great escape is possible, but the Saints will need to turn some of their draws and narrow defeats into future points if they are to realise that ambition. A 1-1 draw with Belper United and a 3-3 stalemate with Kimberley Miners Welfare are the filling in that Selston sandwich and represent part of a run that has seen the Saints pick up points in four of their last nine fixtures – by far a seasons best for the Leicestershire side. Narrow defeats to Skegness Town and Loughborough Students (both 1-0) show that this Heather side are capable of being dogged and determined opponents on their day and will certainly be hoping to halt the Greens recent impressive form with a statement victory.

Any hopes of cup runs this campaign were extinguished in the opening round of all three major competitions, with Lye Town knocking the Saints out of the FA Cup, Wolverhampton Casuals doing the damage in the FA Vase, and Bugbrooke St. Michaels halting any UCL Knockout Cup progress. As with any struggling team the Saints have seen a constant churn of players in and out of St. Johns Park with 53 players used so far this campaign already. Of them, top scorer Finlay Barker has only 5 strikes to his name, but he has accumulated them in just 7 outings suggesting the Saints may have stumbled across someone who could hold the key to their step five survival.

The Greens know the Saints will be no pushovers though and will be wary, in particular, of goalkeeper Tom Allsopp who produced a fine display of keeping in this seasons reverse fixture to keep the score respectable. The Greens were 4-0 victors on that occasion back in October with a Ryan Rushen brace added to by Joe Smith and Jonny Nyantou’s debut strike. The two meetings between the two sides last campaign saw Heather emerge victorious in contests either side of the season with a 2-0 victory at Eslaforde Park recorded in the Greens first home game of the campaign, before the Leicestershire side rain riot on the final day of the season at St. Johns Park winning 4-1 in front of 60 spectators – the Greens goal arriving courtesy of Jacob Fenton.

As always we’ll have live match updates on Twitter and once again these are sponsored by the wonderful team at Sleafordian Coaches. Entrance to St. Johns Park (LE67 2QJ) is priced at £7 for adults and £4 for concessions. Kick-off in Leicestershire is at 3PM.

Words: Oliver Atkin