The Match Background
In a fixture list quirk, the Greens make a second trek to Coronation Park in as many weeks to face an Eastwood Community side much improved from last seasons poor showing. The Greens have already visited Western Nottinghamshire by virtue of an early season trip to face Eastwood’s new tenants Belper United, who are ground-sharing with the Red Badgers this campaign. On that occasion, the Greens fell to a first league defeat of the campaign courtesy of Jack Tyson’s second half header and will be firmly hoping to channel a positive performance at Sherwood Colliery on Wednesday evening, into a more positive return to Coronation Park. The Greens will do so without the services of Jacob Fenton and Charlie Ward amongst a series of other absentees, not that those absent had a detrimental effect on the Greens on Wednesday evening, and Player/Manager Tom Ward will be expecting similar grit and determination to be displayed by his side this Saturday – the early title race remains as wide open as ever – now is the time for the Greens to find some form.

Last Time Out
The Greens make their swift return to Coronation Park with eyes firmly focused on a return to winning ways in the league – having not taken three points since the 3-1 victory over Loughborough Students midway through August. Defeat in Nottinghamshire to Belper United was followed up by a 2-2 draw with title-favourites Sherwood Colliery at Debdale Park on Wednesday evening – but the Greens will have been deeply frustrated not to leave with more, after delivering an impressive performance against the only 100% record left standing in Premier Division North. The Greens made a lightning start and took a deserved 1-0 lead when Jake Wrights handball on the line allowed Joe Braithwaite to step up and smash home the opener from the spot. The Greens then remarkably doubled their advantage early in the second half when Tristan Drummond’s cross was nodded on by Ryan Rushen into the path of Ryan Lennon to tap home from close range. Things quickly unravelled for the Greens when Carter Widdowson’s drive from range was wickedly deflected beyond Liam Flitton to half arrears, before the Greens were then reduced to 10-men when Tom Siddons received his marching orders for an alleged tangle with Ewan Robson. Despite that man disadvantage, the Greens held out well until 94th minute when, heartbreakingly, Liam Flitton saw Louis Pennington’s drive squirm through his hands and bring the Wood level with practically the last kick of the game.

Team News
Player/Manager Tom Ward will check on the fitness of his defensive partner Joe Braithwaite after he departed the game at Sherwood Colliery just before the break with a calf issue. His potential absence would add another big name to the injury list alongside Jacob Fenton who is set to miss up to a month with a hip-flexor injury – though his absence should see Ryan Lennon continue his exciting run of form as he looks to really be finding his best in a Greens shirt. Elsewhere Charlie Ward’s three-match suspension has ended but he’ll remain unavailable for today’s contest. One man who will remain available for the Greens is attacker Tom Siddons who will squeeze in one last game in for the Greens before his official return to Stamford AFC – he’ll return to the Daniel’s awaiting a suspension following his red card at Sherwood Colliery on Wednesday evening.

The Opposition
The Greens return to Coronation Park is set to test them to the max once again with Eastwood far improved from a poor 16th placed finish in the Premier Division North last campaign. A strong summer transfer window has seen the Red Badgers bring in a string of fine additions, laced with seasoned United Counties League experience, and they are expected to challenge the top end of Premier Division North this time around. They are living up to that billing too, currently sitting 5th in the table and on a run of four straight league victories that culminated in a narrow 1-0 victory in front of over 500 spectators at Kimberley Miners Welfare on Bank Holiday Monday. That result followed up a 4-1 victory over Coronation Park tenants Belper United – a first defeat of the campaign for the Greens – but the Red Badgers standout result so far has been a 6-0 hammering of Pinchbeck United. Despite the fine run, the Red Badgers did begin their league campaign slowly, losing their opening two fixtures to Melton Town and newly promoted Ashby Ivanhoe, before a 3-1 victory over Kimberley in the FA Cup kickstarted their campaign on August 5th. That victory then allowed the Red Badgers a crack at step four outfit Anstey Nomads in the Preliminary Round but there was to be no shock result against their Leicestershire opponents as Community slipped to a 2-1 defeat on the road.

Ones to Watch
The Red Badgers goalscoring threats come from forward paring Derek O’Connor and Tyler Blake with both players registering five goals each so far this campaign – Blake reaching that tally courtesy of a hat-trick in the 4-1 victory over Coronation Park tenants Belper United last weekend. The Greens will also be wary of the danger posed by Kamani Wilson after he was a scorer against the Greens last season during AFC Mansfield’s shock 2-1 victory at the Forest Town Arena in November while Romaine Graham will also be well known to the Greens after making 31 appearances for Newark & Sherwood United last season. Elsewhere Ferdinand Bartley made 16 appearances for promoted Quorn AFC while Marcus Marshall has experience at National League level with Lincoln City amongst others.

Previous Meetings
The Greens opened up their campaign last season with a narrow 1-0 victory over Eastwood at the Longwater Stadium. 126 spectators witnessed Joe Butler grab the only goal of the contest early in the second half with the Greens seeing out the points with a characteristically strong defensive showing, no doubt aided by Jacob Sturgess’ first half red card leaving the visitors facing the entire second half with 10-men. The return fixture at Coronation Park arrived over the weekend before Christmas when both sides fought out a competitive 0-0 draw in Baltic conditions in Nottinghamshire. Joe Butler was involved again as the red card made a reappearance with both sides finishing with 10-men – Butler the receiver for the Greens while Andre Johnson also saw red for the hosts late on.

The Match Details
Admission to Coronation Park is priced at £7.00 for adults, £5.00 for concessions while children are charged at £4.00. For those travelling to Eastwood, the all-important postcode for Coronation Park is NG16 3HB – Saturday’s match referee is Robert Pealing with his assistants on the day Rhys Watkinson and David Williams. Kick-off in Nottinghamshire is set for 3PM.

Words; Oliver Atkin