Town will be hoping to fair better than their 2013-14 season final day trip to Brantingham Road as Maine Road ran 6-0 winners over a threadbare Town. Goals from Matt Beadle (2), Neil Chappell, Eddie Moran, Rory Breslin and Tom Bentham completed the rout as the Manchester outfit prepared for their League Cup final.

Earlier this season (24th August) saw the two teams meet at Brocstedes Park and Road dished out a real footballing lesson as they ran out 0-5 winners with goals from Saul Henderson (2), Josh Gittens, Neil Chappell and Richard Williams.

Maine Road got their first big job of the summer out of the way, by appointing Lee Bennett as manager for the new season. He joined the club after Chris Thomas and John Morrey resigned in May, and joins from a successful Hindsford side who won five trophies last season. Previously, Bennett had managed Old Alts, also in the Manchester League. Road welcome Andrew Maclean back to the club as the new assistant to Lee Bennett. The ex-player made 59 appearances for Road.

For Town there have been significant comings and goings on the player front with many of last season’s squad departing for pastures new. Both teams have had mixed pre-season campaigns and will be hoping to make a winning start to the season.

Road have won the last six outings between the two sides and Town must look back to Tuesday 21st February 2011 since they recorded a 0-3 win at Brantingham Road when Dyson and Fargher (2) were on target for Town.

We’ve met on the opening day of the NWCFL season twice before and Town will be hoping history repeats itself. Back in 2000-01 Town recorded a 1-2 win with two goals from Gary Laird and twelve months later (2001-02) goals from Wilde (2), Baker, Heavey and Langley saw a 0-5 win!