The Match Background

Hot-on-the-heels of Saturday afternoons 1-1 draw at the Dog & Duck Stadium, the Greens and the Doughboys will reconvene to do battle all over again for the right to face Aylestone Park in the Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round a week on Saturday. Having proved dogged and determined opposition for the Doughboys at the weekend, the Greens have more than earned their chance of a second crack of the whip on home turf this evening. Victory would see the Greens progress into the Preliminary Round for the first time since 2016 and they’ll enter into Wednesday evening’s replay quietly confident that they can cause their Northamptonshire opponents trouble once again. The Greens grew steadily on Saturday and were arguably the side in the ascendancy at full-time after another disciplined display had kept the hosts within touching distance and they were rightly rewarded with 10-minutes remaining when Joe Smith’s flick on from Ryan Flitton’s corner was adjudged to have crossed the line despite a late intervention from a Wellingborough body. Such desire and effort will be required again on Wednesday if the Greens are to see the upset through, but they’ll enter into it with no fear as they look to back up a promising start to the campaign.

Team News

Player/Manager Tom Ward could likely go for a similar side to the one that line up at the Dog & Duck on Saturday, though he could welcome back Captain Charlie Ward, who’s current suspension does not apply to games in the Emirates FA Cup. Tom Ward himself has the novelty of being in a similar position and he could continue at centre-back on Wednesday after leading a young backline valiantly on Saturday. Cameron Hill could be another man involved; his ban similarly not applicable to FA Cup games while star man on Saturday Joe Smith is likely to continue in the heart of the team after grabbing Saturday’s crucial equaliser. Ward will have one concern though after an industrial tackle on Jake Henderson in stoppage time forced him off early and his fitness will be checked upon prior to kick-off. One definite absentee is fellow defender Kyle Watkins who continues to recover from a groin strain picked up in pre-season at Newark Town.

The Opposition

Slick football and effective use of pace up top could well be key to Wellingborough Town’s survival at step four this coming campaign. Maybe not the clearest of challenges at the start of last season, the Doughboys pounded through, winning United Counties League Premier Division South at a canter, ending a near 40-year wait for the return of step four football to Wellingborough. Their success was as much down to a close-nit squad as it was it’s obvious talent and experience, and with so many of last seasons title winners pledging their futures at the Dog & Duck, a lot will depend on how an exciting bunch of lads make the step up.

They’ll certainly fancy giving the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands a good punch, particularly with over sixty goals laced to the boots of their front two. Forty goals in forty-seven appearances made Neo Richard-Noel not only the Doughboys top-scorer, but also the leagues and he was joined in the top ten by strike partner Jessi Obeng who himself bagged twenty across the campaign. Midfielder Joe Curtis was the Doughboys standout man on Saturday, laying on the assist for Jack O’Connor’s opener after 57 minutes. Neat on the ball and with a killer set-piece, Curtis will likely provide the engine once again on Wednesday, though the Greens will also look out for the experienced head of Brett Solkhon, who’s many years at step two with Kettering Town make him a distinct danger.

Despite that though, the visitors this evening were certainly not banking on dealing with a midweek trip to Lincolnshire this week. Yet to start their league campaign (which gets underway on Saturday), the Doughboys could possibly have done without the inconvenience and would have hoped to have enjoyed a free week in the run up to their eagerly anticipated league opener. Such is the FA Cup though; it usually throws a few bumps, and the Doughboys may well look to the other side of the coin and at least take the match fitness that comes with competitive fixtures. After finishing last season with 10 wins in 11, they certainly know how to get things rolling and having lifted the United Counties League Champions of Champions trophy at the expense of Sherwood Colliery last season – and reached the United Counties League Knockout Cup Final too – they now how to breed success too and the expectation will be that the Doughboys will come and get the job done this evening.

Previous Meetings

Saturday’s stalemate in Northamptonshire was a 28th meeting of the two sides but only the fifth draw in that time. The sides were once regular opponents when both were in the United Counties League Premier Division but were split when the Premier Division broke into two regionalised leagues and the two sides have not met since the 2019/20 season – one ultimately chalked off due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. That most recent trip into Northamptonshire resulted in a 3-1 defeat which followed up a 5-0 thrashing the previous season – the Greens featuring Joe Smith that day. Smith also featured as the Greens had slightly more luck earlier in the campaign as they beat the Doughboys 2-1 the last time the two sides met at Eslaforde Park, Michael Hayden the scorer on that occasion in a side also featuring current club captain, Charlie Ward. Overall, though, the Greens record does not read too well and in all, the Greens have won just eight of twenty-seven fixtures played, losing fifteen and drawing four.

The Match Details

Admission to The MKM Ground (NG34 7ER) on Wednesday evening is priced at £7 for adults and £4 for concessions, with under-sixteen’s free (alongside a paying adult). We also offer a military discount for those in the armed services, and this grants you entry at £5 upon production of a valid ID. Cash and card can be accepted at both our turnstiles and at the hot food counter which serves a variety of hot and cold drinks and snacks. Our matchday programme can be found on our website or social channels in the lead up to kick-off, but for those who prefer a printed memento, you can pick up a complimentary teamsheet at the turnstiles or in the bar. Wednesday’s match referee is Peter Brothwell, and he is assisted on the day by Andrew Lawrance and James Turner. Kick-off at Eslaforde Park is scheduled for 7:45pm.

Words; Oliver Atkin