Match Preview

BLUES v NUNEATON BOROUGH - MATCH PREVIEW

Match Information
Blues v Nuneaton Borough
Pitching In Southern League Central Premier
Saturday 16th April
Watson & Hillhouse Stadium, Victory Road, Leiston, Suffolk, IP16 4DQ.
Tel: - 01728 830308.

Admission Charges
Adults - £11
Concessions - £8
Students (with ID) - £6
Under 16’s - £2.

Matchday Programme - Purchased on the day of the game for £2.

Car Parking (Free of charge)
Main Car Park.

Catering Information - Large bars and internal catering facilities with hot and cold food available.

MATCH SPONSORS: - Molecular.

MATCH BALL SPONSORS: - PowerClean Chemicals.

Game 39/40.

Leiston finish the league season with two games at home, starting with Nuneaton Borough tomorrow afternoon. Leiston’s seven points from their last three games has meant they still maintain 7th spot, while Nuneaton are still in danger of getting relegated as they sit in 17th position. Nuneaton are one point off third from bottom (19th place). Two of the third from bottom sides out of the four Step 3 leagues will be relegated at the end of the campaign. The Blues can still reach 60 points if they take four points from their last two games and they will want to finish as high as they can.

Earlier in the season, Leiston went down 2-0 to Nuneaton in their fourth league match of the campaign. Nuneaton have won their last two matches 2-1 against Hitchin Town and Needham Market respectively and Will think their survival bid is nearly at an end and complete.

In December 2019, the sides met in their only previous match in Suffolk with Andy Fennell on target as the Blues conceded late in a 1-1 draw with Nuneaton.

Blues joint boss Chris Wigger said on Friday: -

‘With two wins and a draw from our last three matches, we go into the last 3 games of the season with a bit of momentum. We feel the group is relatively fresh for this stage of the season and we have deliberately tried to even out the minutes recently to make sure that the squad is physically ready to see out the season in a positive manner! Although potentially we could miss out on a play off spot by a few points which when we look back will be very disappointing. But on the whole we must realise we have come a long way and we are by no means finished. The majority of this group we feel can push us further next season with a few tweeks here and there.
Saturday brings Nuneaton, a side that beat us convincingly earlier in the season. A game where we were far from our best. We want to finish the season with maximum points so the lads will need to improve on their previous performance against Nuneaton.’

Games in the Pitching In Southern League Central Premier tomorrow: -

AFC Rushden & Diamonds v Bromsgrove Sporting
Alvechurch v Lowestoft Town
Biggleswade Town v Hednesford Town
Hitchin Town v Banbury United
LEISTON v NUNEATON BOROUGH
Needham Market v Coalville Town
Rushall Olympic v Royston Town
Stourbridge v Peterborough Sports
Stratford Town v St Ives Town
Tamworth v Redditch United.

Meanwhile, the Reserves play at Sheringham in a match that if the Norfolk club win will see them win the league. If the Reserves gain a point or more, then Harleston Town can snatch the title from them if they win at home to Needham Market Reserves. The Reserves form has been impressive in 2022, which has seen them lose just twice in 14 league and cup games.

Blues Reserves boss Ryan Honeyman said on
Friday: -

‘Tomorrow our young reserve team visit Sheringham FC in our last away game of the season. Sheringham are the form team in the division and are currently on a 15 game unbeaten run which has taken them to the top of the table with just tomorrow's game to play . They are in prime position to win the league and gain promotion tomorrow leaving Harleston to try and also gain promotion via the playoffs. Both the top teams will be an excellent addition to the Thurlow Nunn Premier League should they get there and we would like to offer them both our best wishes for tomorrow and the future. Playing in the title decider is great experience for our young team prior to our cup final against another excellent team that has been outstanding in the Southern Division and we would like to congratulate Ipswich Wanderers on their excellent season. From our point of view our aim is to finish the season as strongly as possible and attain the highest league position we can before we start looking forward to the cup final
On Monday we play our final home game against a much improved Yarmouth Town who like us are fighting for a top half finish.
This makes tomorrow the start of three very hard games to conclude our season and we are looking forward to testing ourselves against some excellent teams.’

Games in the Thurlow Nunn League First Division North tomorrow afternoon: -

Downham Town v FC Parson Drove
Great Yarmouth Town v Framlingham Town
Harleston Town v Needham Market Reserves
Peterborough North End v Norwich CBS
SHERINGHAM v LEISTON RESERVES
UEA v Huntingdon Town
Whittlesey Athletic v Debenham LC.