We welcome the management, players and supporters of Phoenix F.C. for this afternoons Central Midlands league north fixture. Enough has been said of our performance back in October in the reverse fixture, and it is now up to the team that Lee and Mark put out to put that result well and truly behind us. It will not be an easy task however, as our visitors are in good form, before last Saturday's defeat at high flying Bentley, they had won five out of five and took sixteen out of eighteen points. Phoenix currently sit in tenth position having won ten of their twenty five games, drawing three and tasting defeat in ten, accumulating thirty three points. Before the defeat at Bentley, the away side posted a four three away victory at Newark, and also a one nil win at Dinnington. Also on their travels an impressive victory at Appleby Frodingham by the odd goal in five, had followed a home win over Retford by four goals to two. Another home win by four goals to nil was the start of the five successive victories, and the unbeaten run was started away at Bilsthorpe after a goalless draw. Their previous game was another two nil defeat at home to Bentley. So looking at those recent results above we are certainly going to be in for a tough afternoon.
If it's goals you are after, Phoenix are certainly a side to watch. They have been involved in some high scoring games, most notably a ten nil defeat to Penistone Church in the Sheffield senior cup, a seventeen goal to one win over Welbeck Lions (how do you concede one after scoring seventeen?), a twelve two defeat at home to Bolsover, and a six three defeat at home to Tideswell. I am not going to mention the five we lost to earlier on in the season!
Head to head wise over the last three seasons is a mixed set of results. Last season we recorded a four nil away win, yet when Phoenix visited the Jones and Co they left with the points after a two one win. 2014 / 2015 saw us win again at Phoenix after recording a seven nil win, but yet again the visitors left Harworth with the points after a three one win. Back to 2013/2014 actually saw us completing the double with a five nil win away, and a surprising seven one victory on the first day of the season here at Scrooby Road. Whatever happens it looks like we will be in for an entertaining game this afternoon, and let's hope by full time we will have extended our winning run to three consecutive wins. Safe journey home to everyone.