Match preview

LIONS HUNT DOWN TOP THREE SPOT

Saturday sees RBL welcome seventh placed Ashland Rovers as they travel to the Legion from Kirkby-in-Ashfield. Having won their previous two matches, manager Garry Smith will be hoping to see his side make it three in a row and put themselves in contention for a spot in the top three as both Long Eaton United Community and Linby Colliery Welfare have tough away fixtures.

In their last match, RBL ruthlessly dispatched Mansfield Hosiery Mills in a dominant 6-0 away win. Goals from Mason Booth-Davis, Dean Oliver and a brace apiece for Sam Vickers and Jordan Lee completed a rout in which the hosts described RBL as “the best side they’d played so far this season, by a mile”.

The match against Ashland gives the boys the chance to complete the month of September unbeaten, although this will be a far from simple task against a side who themselves, will see this fixture as an opportunity to push towards the top end of the table.

Ashland come to Poppyfields Drive with an unbeaten away record, with the last two trips resulting in big wins for this weekends’ visitors. A 4-1 win last weekend against Rowsley 86, and a 7-3 win at Eagle Valley against Arnold Town, showing that Ashland certainly know how to find the back of the net on their travels. With a mixed home record for the season, the away form is what has propelled Ashland to seventh in the table so far. Supporters from both teams can be looking forward to the prospect of a high scoring, entertaining match this weekend.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

The last meeting between the two sides was in August 2019, where Ashland won 4-3 at home. The reverse fixture was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In the 2018-19 season, RBL completed a comfortable double with a 4-0 home win being followed up with a 4-1 win at Ashland.

AWAY TEAM TRAVEL INFORMATION

The visitors take a 23 mile drive along the A38 from Kirkby in Ashfield to the Royal British Legion in Mickleover. Its a straightforward route, hopping off the A38 onto Kingsway and then joining Uttoxeter New Road, past the Royal Derby hospital into Mickleover. Take a right onto Western Rod, follow it around and Poppyfields Drive will be on the right hand side.

The bar will be open and everything will be ready for a 15:00 kick off.

See you then