Match Preview

Match Information
Pitching In Southern League Central Premier
Tamworth v Blues
Saturday 23rd October
Kick Off 3pm
The Lamb Ground, Kettlebrook Road, Tamworth, Staffordshire, B77 1AA.
Tel: - 01827 65798.

Game 12/40.

The Blues head to Staffordshire tomorrow in the Pitching In Southern League Central Premier (3pm KO) still in a very good league position after losing 3-2 at Banbury United on Tuesday night. They are in 8th place while Tamworth are a place above in 7th, with Leiston just a point outside the play-offs.

Leiston will welcome back Adam Bailey-Dennis after the defender served a three game suspension and could also welcome back Jamie Eaton-Collins into the squad. On Tuesday night, Leiston played well at Banbury, with Finlay Barnes and Joe Marsden on target for the Blues but went down to a last minute goal. Sam Donkin had pulled off a penalty save with the match at 2-2.

Tamworth were 4-0 losers at Notts County in an Emirates FA Cup 4th Round Qualifying Replay on Tuesday evening, taking 541 supporters to Nottingham after drawing 0-0 at home last weekend.

Earlier in the season, Adam Mills was on target against the ‘Lambs’ in the FA Cup as the Blues went out 3-1 in Third Round Qualifying action. In January 2020, Leiston won 2-1 at Tamworth in what was a massive three points for the club at the time. John Sands got both goals. Other games at Tamworth have not been quite as successful as Leiston have lost 4-0 (FA Trophy) and 5-0 in April 2019 in the league.

Blues joint boss Chris Wigger said on Friday morning: -

‘Saturday’s trip to Tamworth is another tough away game, but with Tuesday night’s events fresh in our minds we will be adequately prepared for a certain type of environment. The boys correctly feel they deserved something from Tuesday as do we all so there will definitely be an extra grit coming from with going into the game. We know a little bit about Tamworth this season from our FA Cup game not long ago so it’s certainly not uncharted territory. We know that it’s fine lines and the boys are starting to understand how close we are to being real contenders to achieve something. That point between where we are now and the next level isn’t far away but a certain amount of work has to be put in in order to get there and this group isn’t afraid of hard work.’

Pitching In Southern League Central Premier fixtures tomorrow: -

AFC Rushden & Diamonds v Biggleswade Town
Alvechurch v Barwell
Bromsgrove Sporting v Peterborough Sports
Hitchin Town v Stratford Town
Needham Market v Rushall Olympic
Redditch United v Nuneaton Borough
Royston Town v Coalville Town
St Ives Town v Hednesford Town
Stourbridge v Lowestoft Town
TAMWORTH v LEISTON

The Reserves host Downham Town back at HQ’s tomorrow afternoon. The Reserves at 13th but gained a creditable 3-3 draw at Great Yarmouth Town last weekend, with Jesse Okpolokpo netting in the last minute to secure a draw. Downham are 7th in the league table at present, with games in hand on teams above them so it will be another hard match.

Blues boss Ryan Honeyman said before tomorrow’s game against Downham Town: -

‘I’m looking forward to the game tomorrow against Downham Town, who have made a great start to the season with some excellent results. After last Saturdays exciting draw away at Yarmouth where the result could easily of gone either way, there were lots of positives to take from the game. Tomorrow will be a really good test for our young players against a well established team in this league who I feel will be right near the top come the end of the season.’

Thurlow Nunn First Division North fixtures tomorrow: -

Diss Town v Debenham LC
Framlingham Town v Huntingdon Town
LEISTON RESERVES v DOWNHAM TOWN
Sheringham v Harleston Town
Wisbech St Mary v Needham Market Reserves.