Should your journey to the NFU Sports Ground seem familiar, it is likely because it is with the Greens a week shy now of a 1-1 draw just a few miles up the road at Gresley Rovers last Saturday. There, Harry Gibbons' maiden strike looked set to earn the Greens a much needed three-point haul in what increasingly developed into a real battle of attrition at the Moat Ground; and the Greens were eventually undone by an 84th minute strike from Oscar McClure.

Three stalemates in five in United Counties League Premier Division North is representative of the incremental improvements the Greens have been making over recent weeks as rapport amongst Matt Evans' young charges continues to grow by the week. That said though, there is a certain keenness from Evans and his staff to see that side take that next step and earn themselves a victory - something the gaffer alluded to in his post match interview last weekend.

Goals will of course help that. Two from open play in their last two games has been a welcome boon, particularly after such a barren spell without one, but Evans nonetheless urged his side to be ruthless and put sides to bed when they have the game in a chokehold. Whether then, Evans resists the urge to stick, or contemplates twisting will be an interesting moment when the teamsheets go live. One man definitely absent will be Ryan Flitton who continues his rehabilitation for the ankle injury picked up during training a couple of weeks back - though Evans is cautiously optimistic that his return could be sooner than first expected. Either way, his current absence is offset by the potential return of Jack Arbon from a nasty head injury three weeks back at AFC Mansfield, he could go straight into the side alongside Lewis Smalley at centre back. Elsewhere Evans will contend without the services of both Lewis Greenfield (Unavailable) and Sam Greenwood (Work Commitments) while Tyrell Shannon-Lewis' will also be absent once again as he tackles a troublesome back injury.

A visit to the NFU Sports Ground will be a first ever for the Greens on Saturday. Two previous meetings concluded with a clash at Quorn AFC's Farley Way Ground last season as Ivanhoe battled with the elements throughout the campaign at their home ground - the league in the end forcing Saturday's opponents to conclude the campaign elsewhere. They did threaten a late surge into the play-off picture last season after spending much of the campaign marooned down that lower reaches of the Premier Division North table. Such an opportunity was facilitated purely on the sheer number of games in hand Ivanhoe had left to play towards the end of last season - in the end, it was that very schedule that saw them tail off as they won just one of their final 12 games in all competitions.

They welcome the Greens into Leicestershire this weekend in somewhat of a similar position though, having reeled off six-straight defeats in all competitions. That is in curious contrast to the run that led into this losing streak where they'd won six straight games including frankly remarkable home victories over Lincoln United (6-2) and Eastwood Community (5-2).

So, quite what version of Ashby Ivanhoe the Greens will encounter on Saturday is a mystery. Results last season don't separate the two either, with both sides winning 2-0 on the road. 84 spectators were present at the MKM Ground as goals from Sam Grouse and Will Mansfield finished the Greens off on home soil before that result was returned a few weeks later at Farley Way - goals from Finlay Armond and Akeel Francis doing the damage in baking heat in Leicestershire.

Admission to the NFU Sports Ground on Saturday afternoon is priced at £8 for adults, £5 for concessions and £2 for under 17's. Saturday's match referee is Jack Simpson and he is assisted on the day by Maya Korpal and Craig Walkman. Kick-off at the NFU Sports Ground is set for 3:00pm.

Words; Oliver Atkin