The Match Background

After the postponement of the midweek contest with Boston Town as a result of a waterlogged pitch at The MKM Ground, the Greens have enjoyed an unexpected free week as they look to back-up last weekend’s 1-0 victory at Deeping Rangers by seeing off another of their local rivals, Newark & Sherwood United. With the play-offs still a distinct possibility – with a good run of results at least – the Greens will be eager to strengthen those hopes and the arrivals this week of Eli Christie and Tom Waumsley will no doubt provide a further boost ahead of what is increasingly becoming a packed run-in. Opponents Newark & Sherwood United meanwhile are in the midst of a seasons-best run of five straight wins in league action and welcome the Greens to Station Road on the back of a 2-1 victory over upwardly-mobile Hucknall Town last weekend. That run has coincided with a change in the managerial hotseat that saw Romaine Graham replace Jonathan D’Laryea last month, a move that has also seen the return to form of a string of the Highwaymen’s strongest players. Like the Greens scheduled midweek opponents Boston Town, form has arrived too late to realistically challenge the play-off places, but that doesn’t mean the Greens are in for an easy ride and with local bragging rights up-for-grabs, anything can happen on Saturday afternoon.

Team News

Significant squad movement in the week will likely lead to enforced adjustments for Player/Managers Tom Ward and Nathan Arnold on Saturday afternoon. Gregg Smith’s departure to Retford United in the week will guarantee at least one change – though it’s likely his place in that flat-two with Ryan Lennon will be taken by new signing Tom Waumsley who joins the Greens from Deeping Rangers. Another new man, Eli Christie, will also be pushing for a debut on Saturday with his favoured centre-back position in dire need of reinforcement. Postponement in midweek has extended both Tom and Charlie Ward’s respective suspensions into another week while Kyle Watkins – although on the bench on Saturday – is continuing to fight a knee problem that saw him withdrawn at Hucknall Town nearly a month ago. Another man in a similar position is Jake Henderson, who’s recovery from a knee problem is likely to be quicker than expected but may still keep him out for the run-in.

The Opposition

Five wins in their last six United Counties League Premier Division North games has propelled Newark & Sherwood United away from a place of potential danger into mid-table obscurity in recent weeks. The Highwaymen had spent much of the campaign languishing in the lower reaches of Premier Division North after a summer of upheaval saw the Nottinghamshire outfit plummet from a top-10 finish last campaign.

Add to that a first ever Nottinghamshire Senior Cup triumph last season and the Highwaymen were looking set for a real tilt at challenging the upper-reaches of Premier Division North. Just one victory in their first 10 games though suggested things may not be all that easy and the Highwaymen have been staring over their shoulders until rather recently ever since. A 3-1 victory over Heanor Town at the beginning of February though has kick-started the Highwaymen’s best run of form of the entire season with Pinchbeck United (0-2), Deeping Rangers (2-1), Belper United (1-2) and Hucknall Town (1-2) all beaten in the last six weeks. Now five straight victories in league action, the only outlier was a gut-wrenching United Counties League Knockout Cup quarter-final exit at the hands of in-form Ashby Ivanhoe in mid-February. It was a run of form much-needed for a side previously with just one win in five in the new year though their struggles are somewhat curious when you consider that win came against play-off chasing Melton Town. They’ve also beaten Boston Town over the festive period and enjoyed a strong run in the FA Vase that saw them through to the 2nd Round.

The turning point was likely the departure of manager Jonathan D’Laryea last month – the man who replaced Nathan Arnold in the Highwaymen hotseat last season - with experienced player Romain Graham now overseeing matters until the end of the campaign. He’s beginning to see the best out of some of the Highwaymen’s star men including 18-goal top-scorer Liam Moran who has scored four goals in his last five league outings. Luke White is a man well-known to the Greens management team and a lot of the Highwaymen’s creativity often comes through his industrious play – he’s a man who also finds himself in form with three goals in the last five himself. The recent return of Ryan Ebanks to Station Road has provided a boost to the squad ahead of the run-in while players such as keeper Ross Woolley, Toby White and Ryley Thompson are seasoned campaigners at this level – listing spells with Boston Town and Lincoln City amongst them.

Previous Meetings

The Greens have enjoyed a relatively good record over their Nottinghamshire rivals in recent years, winning five of seven contests overall. That included a 1-0 victory over Saturday’s opponents earlier in the campaign as the Greens bought a welcome halt to a poor run of form – Dominic Kew the matchwinner on that occasion in front of 164 spectators at Eslaforde Park in September last year. That followed on from the only draw between the two sides on the last day of the 2022/23 campaign where the Greens had led until stoppage time through Jacob Fenton’s penalty strike early in the second half. The Greens were ultimately undone in the 94th minute when Nyle Blake struck for the Highwaymen as the Greens recorded their highest ever United Counties League finish of 5th.

The Greens remain unbeaten at Station Road in league action after an impressive 4-1 victory there at the beginning of last season. A brace apiece for Jacob Fenton and Ryan Rushen overturned Kian Sketcher’s early first half opener on a rainy Tuesday evening in Nottinghamshire – though the Highwaymen did get their revenge a few weeks later in FA Vase action, winning a 2nd Qualifying Round tie on penalties after a 0-0 draw in normal time.

The Match Details

Admission to Station Road on Saturday is priced at £6 for adults and £4 for concessions with under-16’s priced at a £1. The clubs matchday programme will also be available at the gate on Saturday and they are priced at £2.00 per copy. Saturday’s match referee is Tim Eagles and he is assisted on the day by Alex Orchiston and Robin Bourne. Kick-off at Station Road is scheduled for 3.00PM.

Words; Oliver Atkin