The Match Background

For the Greens, it’s become a timely break from league action where a promising start to the campaign as crumbled into a frustrating one in the last fortnight. Having opened up with that 1-0 win over Hucknall, the Greens suffered a disastrous last week in which they lost three straight games, conceding 12 goals in the process. Player/Manager Tom Ward bemoaned the ‘rubbish goals’ his side gave away, particularly in back-to-back five goal defeats at the hands of Newark & Sherwood United and Lincoln United and urged his side knuckle down and use this weekends game with Gedling Miners Welfare as an opportunity to reset. The postponement of the midweek trip to Deeping Rangers possibly helped this cause, allowing Ward the opportunity to get in a much-needed training session as the Greens look to kick-start their campaign. They face a relative unknown in the form of the Miners though, with the two sides having never previously met despite them residing just a level below in United Counties League Division One. Three wins and three defeats from their opening six league fixtures gives away little in terms of what the Greens can expect on Saturday, but with a much needed pick-me-up required, Ward will be eager to make sure his side do not slip on the proverbial ‘banana skin’.

Team News

Player/Manager Tom Ward will be forced into changes on Saturday afternoon, not least as a result of his own one-match suspension for his sending off in the game with Newark & Sherwood United just over a week ago. Ward will also have to content without his influential goalkeeper Liam Flitton who begins a three match suspension for his sending off against Lincoln United last weekend. Flitton has previously missed just one game for the Greens in his three years at the club – on that occasion, Liam Tunstall deputised in his place – though who is set to be between the sticks on Saturday afternoon remains somewhat of a mystery. Ward will assess Ryan Flitton too after he was withdrawn through injury from the game with Lincoln United, while he’ll also check on the fitness of defensive duo Harrison Ainslie and Kyle Watkins who are both nearing returns following spells on the sidelines with injury.

The Opposition

Opponents Gedling Miners Welfare meanwhile enter into the Vase on the back of an opening six games that has seen them blow both hot and cold. Three wins and three defeats from six has them placed rather handily in United Counties League Division One nevertheless and they are currently residing just outside the play-offs in a compact early season field. Three straight defeats to begin the season indicated a tough season ahead, but the turnaround since has been stark and the enter the Vase with confidence and as one of the form sides in the division. Tuesday evenings 3-1 victory over Nottingham rivals Radford FC was their first on home soil this campaign and backed-up handy 2-0 victories on the road at Southwell City and at fancied Stapleford Town.

It all means they’ll welcome the Greens to Mapperley Plains in buoyant mood and confident of causing problems for their higher-ranked opposition. Looking to make the 2nd Qualifying Round for a fifth consecutive season, the Miners have never been passed the 1st Round proper of the competition, the stage they fell at last season to the impressive Loughborough Students. They’ll be hoping then, to transfer that recent league form into a scalp on Saturday afternoon with the winners set to host Kirby Muxloe –now of the Midland League Division One – in the 2nd Qualifying Round.

Previous Meetings

Saturday afternoon’s contest will be a first between the Greens and the Miners. The Greens began their FA Vase campaign in Nottinghamshire last season – defeating Ollerton Town 6-0. The Greens have not gone beyond the 1st Round proper since the 2016/17 season, with their record run seeing them through to the 4th Round proper in 2015/2016 under the management of Paul Ward.

The Match Details

Admission to Mapperley Plains (NG3 5RH) on Saturday afternoon is priced at £7 for adults and £4 for concessions, with under-sixteen’s free (alongside a paying adult). Saturday’s match referee is Stuart Mallows, and he is assisted on the day by Gary Smith and David Henfrey. Kick-off in Nottingham is scheduled for 3:00pm.

Words; Oliver Atkin