It is set to be a defining week for the Greens who have the opportunity of a lucrative inter-step play-off firmly in their grasp. They’ll likely still need a flawless haul of nine points from nine over the coming week – a tough ask with Champions-elect Anstey Nomads to come on Tuesday evening, before a return to The Longwater Stadium next Saturday to face local rivals Newark & Sherwood United. The Greens arrive on Farley Way though having extended their unbeaten run to 13 games in all competitions in midweek with a gritty 4-2 victory over Selston FC on Wednesday evening. It looked at times, to be a frustrating evening for the visitors, particularly when Jordan Black smashed home Jacob Barress’ cross to give the hosts a shock 9th minute lead. The Greens responded well on the whole though and fought their way back into the contest just before half-time when Rodrigo Goncalves crossed for Akeel Francis to tap home from close range to send the sides in level at the break.

The Greens hit the front for the first time in the contest just beyond the hour mark when Jacob Fenton’s pinpoint cross was headed home by Ryan Rushen. There was to be though, a sting in the tail for the visitors when Charlie Ward was adjudged to have felled his man in the box and Jordan Black stepped up to bring the Parishioners level from the spot. The Greens response was instantaneous though and right from the restart, Ryan Rushen did well to set up Jacob Fenton at the far post who managed to bundle home to spark scenes of wild celebrations. The visitors then afforded themselves some breathing space with five minutes of the 90 remaining - and it was star man Rushen who finished off the job, striking sweetly from distance to beat Joe Fryatt and find the bottom corner.

Player/Manager Tom Ward once again shuffled his pack as the Greens contested their third league game in just five days. Rests were given to Joe Smith, Mitch Griffiths and Ward himself ahead of this weekends’ crucial contest in Leicestershire, while there were returns to the starting eleven too for Charlie Ward, Joe Braithwaite and Akeel Francis after cameos from the bench on Easter Monday. Joe Butler made a welcome return to action also and continued his fine form.

Matt McBride will hope for more involvement this afternoon after starting against Selston on Wednesday, while there were also cameo appearances for Finlay Armond, Sam Wright and Harry Johnson in midweek - Ward will be expected to rotate his squad once again this afternoon.

Opponents Quorn FC meanwhile will represent another stern test of the Greens promotion credentials. The Fox Hunters are well in the mix themselves and harbour strong hopes of their own of securing a potential play-off game for a place back at step four. Victory on Saturday would lift the Leicestershire side back level on points with the Greens with both sides still to play three games over the next week or so. They suffered somewhat of a setback on Easter Monday when their contest with Anstey Nomads was abandoned following a serious injury to star man, Fortune Maphosa. The Fox Hunters will now have to complete the season minus one of their most influential men, but they will fancy their chances just as much as the Greens of sneaking above Loughborough Students over the coming week.

They were 3-1 victors on the road on Easter Saturday at Heanor Town, making it four unbeaten since a 3-2 home reversal to Loughborough Students just under a month ago. That defeat at the hands of the Scholars is the only one the Fox Hunters have recorded in 12 games stretching back to a 2-1 win over Heather St. Johns at the beginning of February. Saturday then, will pit together two of the Premier Division North’s most formidable runs of form - and with the winner likely to install themselves as the favourite for that play-off spot, there is plenty up for grabs. Perhaps Quorn’s greatest danger is their goalscoring ability and with the Leicestershire side failing to score on only three occasions all season – one of those blanks drawn at The Longwater Stadium – it may be no surprise then that their 90 goals for the season makes them one of the leagues most potent outfits. Those goals have been gathered in some notably high scorelines too, none more so than a 7-4 defeat at Melton Town before Christmas. There has also been a 4-4 draw with Leicester Nirvana, 5-1 victories over Kimberley Miners Welfare, Belper United, Boston Town and Skegness Town, a 5-2 triumph over Newark & Sherwood United, and in the Knockout Cup - an impressive 6-2 victory over FA Vase finalists Newport Pagnell Town.

With those sorts of stats then, it may come as no surprise that striker Patrick Webb is hot on the heels of Kimberley Miners Welfare’s James Shaw for the leagues golden boot with a stunning 36 goals in just 42 appearances. Despite his threat the Greens will fancy their chances of keeping Webb – and his 17 goal strike partner Stephen Hart – quiet on Saturday having themselves conceded just two goals in their last five games.
The Fox Hunters and the Greens have been regular opponents over the last few seasons with this afternoons contest at Farley Way set to be a ninth meeting of the sides. The first came in 2012/13 when a hat-trick from Liam Tunstall secured the Greens what remains one of only two victories over the Fox Hunters. The second of those triumphs was recorded last season as Tom Ward’s fledgling troops recorded a 3-2 victory over the Leicestershire outfit at The Longwater Stadium, the goals on that occasion scored by Rodrigo Goncalves, Ward himself and Mitch Griffiths. This seasons’ corresponding fixture saw the two sides play out a 0-0 stalemate in front of 132 spectators at The Longwater.

As always, we’ll have live match commentary on our Twitter feed and these are sponsored by our close friends at Sleafordian Coaches. Admission to Farley Way (LE12 8RB) for those travelling is priced at £7 for adults and £5 for concessions.

Words: Oliver Atkin