Forget the international fixtures, when covering the lower leagues, it’s club football every week, this week being no different as Tuesday and Wednesday night see’s all 24 Conference Premier clubs in action.
Midweek Conference Premier Preview
The pick of the games comes from the East coast, as Lincoln City host their bitter rivals Grimsby Town. The Imps host Grimsby after a 3-1 loss to unbeaten Woking, the third loss in succession. What a way to end your winless run than over your bitter rivals. Grimsby on the other hand have lost just once this season. Grimsby have taken part in some big scoring games already, a 7-0 win over basement club Alfreton came after a 6-1 win over Dover Athletic. Mariners striker Lennell John-Lewis returns from suspension but Nathan Arnold is doubtful. Lincoln haven’t won a Lincolnshire Derby since 2006 but the last game did end in a 1-1 draw last season.
Another big game comes at the Memorial Ground, where new-boys Bristol Rovers host promotion candidates Wrexham. Bristol Rovers have found it hard to adjust to life in non-league as they have won just twice in their opening seven games. The wake-up call well and truly came on Saturday where they were beaten 2-0 by part-timers Braintree Town. Losses to Barnet and Altrincham haven’t done the Gas any favours. They were held to a 1-1 draw with West Country rivals Forest Green Rovers as they look to bounce back at the first attempt. Wrexham on the other hand are doing well, after a 1-0 win away from home the Dragons are hoping to keep up their unbeaten away form, against a side unbeaten at home! New striker Louis Moult has scored four goals in his last five games whilst the Reds kept only their second clean sheet this season. Daniel Bachmann recieved the man of the match award from ‘Wrexham Player’ and it was evident, as his saves were sublime. These sides haven’t met since March 2007 where Wrexham won 1-0 at the Memorial Ground, this will be the first time the sides have met in non-league.
Elsewhere in the Vanarama Conference, Alfreton Town are still searching for their first point of the season, as they face newly-promoted Altrincham. After the sale of 18 goal striker John Akinde, Alfreton have scored just four goals in seven games. Holes have appeared in the defence, conceding 22 goals. A 7-0 loss to Grimsby Town was a real low and Nicky Law’s men will look to finally get a point this season and lift themselves off the bottom.
With table-toppers Barnet not playing until 24 hours after everyone else, Kidderminster, Woking and Halifax could all over take them, for a day at least. Halifax are second on goal difference and look to advance on their good run of form against a Macclesfield Town side who lost their first game last weekend away at Cheshire rivals Chester. Macclesfield may have lost just once this season, but have now gone four games without a win and now face a Halifax side who have lost just once in their opening seven. Halifax will look to replace striker Lee Gregory’s goals after he joined Millwall in the summer, Scott Boden has netted three goals so far this season whilst the Silkmen rely on Waide Fairhurst. Kidderminster Harriers could also go top if Halifax don’t win, the Harriers travel to Southport who have five points on the board. Kidderminster look to build on a 2-1 win over last seasons play-off finalists Gateshead. Southport on the other hand are in for another season fighting relegation, the North Western side were on the wrong side of a 2-1 loss to new-boys Eastleigh.
The league’s only unbeaten side is Woking, the Cardinals have yet to taste defeat. Scott Rendell is the league’s top scorer with seven goals, and that will frighten the Aldershot defence. The Shots lost 1-0 to Halifax last week and now look to push on in their second season back in the Conference, but will look to counter Rendell’s goals with Brett Williams who has hit the back of the net 5 times this term.
Chester, who beat their Cheshire rivals Macclesfield on Saturday after a super free-kick from John Rooney, they face relegated Torquay United. The Cestrians, who lost on the opening day 5-0 have now got four points after a 2-2 draw with Kidderminster was sandwiched by five defeats. Torquay come into the fixture off the back of a 4-0 win over Nuneaton Town, the Gulls are 9th going into the game and look to continue a good run of form having now gone unbeaten in six.
Reprieved club Dartford take on new boys Eastleigh, the Darts are hovering above the relegation zone whilst Eastleigh currently occupying the last play-off spot, but could rise to 3rd. Gateshead could over take Eastleigh with a win over second bottom AFC Telford United, the Bucks haven’t adjusted to life back in the Conference well and could struggle against the Heed. Welling United face a Braintree side who as we’ve seen upset Bristol Rover on Saturday, Irons leading scorer Kenny Davis will look to strike the vulnerable Wings defence as Welling sit uncomfortably in the relegation zone.
Finally Forest Green, who had their unbeaten run come to an end on Saturday, thanks to Louis Moult’s stunning free-kick for Wrexham take on Brian Reid’s Nuneaton. Ady Pennock’s Rovers will be without leading marksman Lee Hughes who’s suspended for three games after kicking out at Wrexham goalkeeper Dan Bachmann. James Norwood and Luke Rodgers will have to be relied on if Rovers are to beat a Nuneaton side taking up the final relegation spot. After losing such attackers as Moult and Wes York in the summer, the Boro have struggled for goals, scoring just twice. One of the goalscorers Andy Brown is suspended after being red carded on Saturday. Both goals came in the same game for Nuneaton meaning six of the seven games they have been goalless and conceding eleven goals.
Who will be top of the pile following the midweek games? Barnet will need to do well against a good Dover side whilst we are in for a treat in the Lincolnshire derby where Lincoln could win for the first time in eight years, leapfrogging Grimsby at the same time. Whatever the outcome it is set to be a jam-packed week of Conference Premier football.
Thank you for reading. Support LWOS by following us on Twitter – @LastWordOnSport and @LWOSworld – and “liking” our Facebook page.
For the latest in sports injury news, check out our friends at Sports Injury Alert.
Have you tuned into Last Word On Sports Radio? LWOS is pleased to bring you 24/7 sports radio to your PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone. What are you waiting for?
Feel free to discuss this and other footy related articles with thousands at r/football.
