Match Preview

Eccleshill United will be looking to bounce back to winning ways this weekend when Bottesford Town visit the Mitton Group Stadium in the NCEL Premier Division.

The Eagles were knocked out of the NCEL League Cup by Division One side, Selby Town in midweek, despite dominating the game and having plenty of chances, the clinical visitors earned a 1-3 win to progress to the Quarter Finals.

Bottesford town was also on the losing end of a 1-3 scoreline in midweek after being defeated by second place, Worksop Town away from home, meaning both sides will be hoping to put a poor midweek result behind them.

Despite the scoreline, Sean Regan’s squad was boosted by the return of Luke Harrop, who has finished top goal scorer at the club for the past two years, and the Eagles will also have midfield veteran Andy Cooper available again at the weekend.

In the league, Eccleshill United are undefeated since November, a run that the squad will be keen to continue if possible, whilst the visiting side have had a fairly mixed start to the new year.

The Poachers head into the game having won three games, drawn two, and lost three, having scored in every single game so far in 2019, proving their attacking prowess.

Just one place separates the two evenly matched sides in the NCEL Premier Division table, with Bottesford sitting in 10th place whilst Eccleshill United are currently in 11th. There are just four points between the two teams, although the Eagles do have two games in hand.

Bottesford has only managed to pick up just two victories on their travels so far this season, accumulating most of their points in home fixtures, including when the two sides met earlier on in the season.

When the two teams last met it was Bottesford who earned three points in a 2-0 victory that the Eagles will be keen to gain revenge for. Inform Khurram Shazad will be looking to continue his impressive goalscoring run, having scored two goals in as many games in what has been a great February for the attacking midfielder.

With both sides very evenly balanced on paper, it should be a closely fought contest between two sides looking to push up the NCEL Premier Division.

The game takes place at the Mitton Group Stadium with kick-off at 3:00 PM.