Match Preview

Dino Maamria takes his Nuneaton Town side to Shropshire on Tuesday to face AFC Telford United in a match that could have massive ramifications at the bottom of the table. Whilst the Boro' have been climbing the National League North in recent weeks, their hosts have been sliding in the opposite direction.

Telford's most recent match saw them entertain FC United of Manchester, a match they won 1-0, thanks in part to Paul Bignot and Niall Maher, who were making their Telford debuts. According to the Shropshire Star “Bignot could frequently be seen telling his team-mates where they needed to be while centre-half Maher kept things simple, clearing his lines whenever required to do so.” The games only goal came from Shrewsbury loanee John McAtee.

United are managed by former Welsh International defender Rob Edwards, and he's been busy strengthening his squad lately. First off he bought Ellis Deeney from Tamworth. The former Worcester City Captain was part of the Lambs' side that lost 4-1 at Liberty Way on Boxing Day. Those moves were followed by Bignot and Maher.

Top-scorer for Telford this season is Marcus Dinanga, on loan from Championship side Burton Albion. The 20 year-old frontman scored 34 times for Matlock Town last season and has 8 in the league so far this term. Anthony Dwyer and Amari Morgan-Smith are next, both with six. The Bucks have won just four of their past sixteen Vanarama National League North matches, with two of those against bottom side North Ferriby United. They currently sit 19th, three points from safety, but have at least two games on the six teams above them.

The Boro' have won three of their last four visits to New Bucks Head and have scored nine times in their previous two trips to Telford. Last seasons meeting ended in a 4-2 victory for Nuneaton with two goals apiece from Greg Mills and Jordan Nicholson. The Peterborough loanee has ten league goals to his name so far this year, including scoring in both of the Boro's current two game win streak.

Anthony Dwyer opened the scoring for the Lillywhites as they won 2-0 at the LDJ Solicitors Stadium back in September. Niall Heaton's own goal gave the result a look of comfort that it probably didn't deserve as Ashley Chambers had a goal ruled out. Prior to that result, Telford hadn't beaten Nuneaton in any of their meetings over the past three seasons. Can the Bucks find another, much needed, win, or will the Boro' reassert their recent domination on Tuesday?