Match Preview

PREVIEW | LINBY COLLIERY WELFARE (h)

LIONS AIM FOR A RESULT TO REMEMBER ON REMEMBRANCE WEEKEND

This weekend, as we remember those who have given their lives for their country, Mickleover RBL host Linby Colliery Welfare, who sit in tenth place in the Central Midlands League Premier Division South. With Linby having already lost as many matches this season as the whole of last in just eleven matches. Having tasted defeat to Linby in the final of the Buckingham Insurance League Challenge Cup last season, revenge is on the cards as the Lions will be hungry for the victory at Poppyfields Drive this weekend.

Last weekend, RBL hosted a Teversal side who were on a great run of form in the league. A brace from Jordan Lee was answered by a single goal from Connor Bower for Teversal. The 2-1 home victory for the Lions saw them make it five wins in a row and leapfrog their opposition into third spot with two games in hand over Clay Cross Town, who currently occupy the top spot.

Linby Colliery Welfare are having a disappointing start to the season after such a good performance in 2021-22. Good results in the league and County cups at the moment have provided Linby with their only victories since the first of October, where they beat lowly Arnold Town. Their last fixture was a stunning 7-0 away victory in the County cup over West Bridgford Colts third team.

Linby will be wanting to get back on track in the league and regain some of the form of last season if they want to make an impression on the top half of the table this term.

With five wins in a row in all competitions, RBL will go into this match in a confident mood. Two games in hand and a five point gap to top spot gives the Lions a great opportunity to put themselves into the mix for the busy Christmas period.

Manager Garry Smith has no additional headaches due to the upcoming world cup as club captain John Cullen has again been overlooked by England manager Gareth Southgate.

A LITTLE ABOUT THIS WEEKEND'S OPPOSITION

Linby Colliery Football Club is a football club from Linby in Nottinghamshire, England.
They were formed in 1892 and were known as Linby Colliery Welfare for a period during the 1990s and 2000s. In 2012–13 they started playing in the Central Midlands League South Division.
Their most significant achievement was reaching the 1st round proper of the FA Cup in 1950–51. In a cup run lasting seven rounds they won 4–0 at Boston United before playing Gillingham in the first round proper. They lost to Gillingham 1–4 at home on 25 November 1950, with Linby's goal scored by Ralph 'Dickie' Dulson, father of future Port Vale star Garry Dulson.
In 1975–76 the club became founder members of the Midland County League Division One.

Onto today

The bar will be open and everything will be ready for a 14:00 kick off.

See you then

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

The last meeting between the two sides was in last season's Buckingham Insurance League Challenge Cup final at Alfreton Town’s Impact Arena. A 1-1 draw at the end of normal time, with goals from Lee Hillier for RBL and Caden Mcgrath for Linby saw the match go to penalties. RBL missed two of theirs, condemning themselves to the disappointment of a cup final defeat.

The away fixture in the league in March saw another 1-1 draw, with Lee Hillier again scoring for RBL, with Elliot Jones scoring for the hosts.

The home fixture at the Legion was early in the season in August, where yet another draw was played out between the two sides. This time, a 2-2 scoreline saw Jordan Lee and Sam Vickers scoring for RBL, while Sean Craven and Rory Smith scored for Linby.