This weekend, as many other matches have fallen foul of the weather, the first team travels to Cromford Meadows. Here, they face Cromford & Wirksworth Town, who currently occupy twelfth spot in the Central Midlands League Premier Division South. Having lost their last two matches, and winning just three times in the league so far this season, the hosts will be keen to put on a performance against an RBL side who last tasted defeat way back at the start of October. The Lions, on the other hand, will be looking for a seventh win in a row, as they travel away for the first time since their 1-0 victory over Holbrook St Michaels six weeks ago.

Last weekend, RBL hosted Linby Colliery Welfare for a remembrance weekend match, appropriately at the Royal British Legion. Goals from Dean Oliver and then Jordan Lee were answered late on by a consolation from Linby substitute Ethan Glaves. The 2-1 victory kept up the pressure on the top two teams, as RBL sit in third spot, five points behind the top two, with three games in hand on Pinxton in second and two on Clay Cross who sit top. With just three points dropped so far this season, RBL have created a great run of consistency so far this season. Both Clay Cross and Pinxton are not playing this weekend, meaning that the Lions have the possibility of closing the gap to just two points.

Cromford and Wirksworth Town will be looking to get back to winning ways after losing their last two matches, after a three game winning streak. Last weekend, they travelled to Graham Street Prims in Borrowash, who, a month earlier, they had beaten at home. This time around, Prims took a 2-0 victory, leaving Cromford with a second defeat in a row, having lost convincingly at home to Pinxton the week before 4-0. Cromford & Wirksworth will be looking over their shoulders at this early stage in the season, as just four teams sit below them.

With six 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.

With pitch conditions likely to have an influence on todays’ game, the Lions should be ready for a battle in a mud bath as they look to make the most of the game in hand over the top two.

The match kicks off at 2pm

See you then