Up next, the Lions take the trip North where they face the team currently holding up the rest in Ashland Rovers. With a 100% record so far for 2023, RBL will be confident of taking the points against a side with just three points to their name for the season so far.

With matches taking place in midweek, RBL have an extra game in hand on Pinxton, who won, and Graham Street Prims, who lost. Again, a win is essential for RBL to stay in the chase for top spot. This weekend also sees second placed Clay Cross Town host Graham Street Prims. With a draw being the ideal result for RBL, it’s a big weekend for the Lions.

In their last match, RBL hosted Rowsley 86, from Division One West in the Buckingham Insurance League Challenge Cup. 16 year old Connor Livingstone was the highlight, as he made his full senior debut after first playing for the under 17’s in their 6-0 victory over CS Colts in the morning. A man of the match performance followed as the seniors glided past their visitors with a 3-0 victory to take them into the next round of the cup. Goals from Owen Brader, Jordy Lee and Liam Oliver ensured that RBL avoided this potential banana skin of a fixture.

Ashland Rovers head into this fixture after a heavy midweek defeat, where they were hammered at home 6-1 by Wirksworth Ivanhoe. Having been 3-0 down at half time, a single goal from Maceo Marriott was the only answer to a hattrick from Jack Higton, a brace from Lucas Brough and a goal from Liam Bednall. With their only win of the season coming in the cup in November, Ashland will surely be the underdogs for this match.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

The two sides last met in October, where the Lions made hard work of the first half, but improved massively after half time. Goals from Sam Vickers and Josh Wright gave the Lions the points.

The last time the sides met at Kingsway Park, RBL again took the points, with an own goal and goals from Mason Booth-Davis and Lee Hillier doing the damage.

Before that, the two sides met towards the end of September 2021 at Poppyfields Drive. Goals from Sam Groves, Daniel Minto and Sam Vickers gave RBL the victory as a James Whitmore brace was not enough for the visitors on that occasion.

The fixture at RBL in the 2019-20 season was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, while the away match saw Ashland winning 4-3 with Ashland Rovers sitting comfortably in the middle of the table after 22 matches when the season was halted.

In the 2018-19 season, RBL smashed four past Ashland in both meetings, with no reply at Poppyfields, and just a single goal in reply at Kingsway Park, seeing RBL taking all six points from Ashland that season.

ONTO TODAY

With an ever growing gap to top spot, RBL have seven matches and fifteen points to make up on Pinxton. Even the slightest slip up could be catastrophic, so the Lions will have pressure from now until the end of the season if they want to fulfil their potential.

TRAVEL INFORMATION

The Lions take a 25 mile drive along the A38 from the Royal British Legion in Mickleover to Kingsway Park in Kirkby in Ashfield.

It's a straightforward route, heading along the A38 and joining Alfreton Road at the M! Junction 28 island. Follow Alfreton Road and turn left onto Town Street, followed by a left again onto Kirkby Lane. Kirkby Lane becomes Pinxton Road. Follow this and turn left at the junction onto Pinxton Road continued. Stay on this road until meeting an island, taking the last exit onto Chapel Street.
Follow the road until turning onto Hodgkinson Road on the right. Kingway Park is at the end of the road.

See you there.

The match kicks off at 2pm.

See you then