Carlton welcome AFC Rushden & Diamonds to Stoke Lane this Tuesday. The Diamonds earned a valuable 1-0 win at the weekend on the road against second bottom Boldmere St Michaels. Those points, whilst not lifting the visitors out of the bottom four brought them to within shooting distance of mid table should they win here and other results go their way. Such is the compressed nature of the division. Before last weekend’s result an away win for the Diamonds here would have seemed unlikely as they had only picked up a point on the road before then from their six contests. But, arriving on the back of that win, the visitors should have a high degree of confidence.
Carlton are top of the league and have made a strong start to the season. Their 1-0 away win at Steel Park on Saturday was their fourth win in succession, they are currently on a seven match unbeaten run and have only lost once in the last 10. That the squad has a number of injuries and players playing in covering positions on a weekly basis make that position so much more impressive. Having got into this position though, staying there will be incredibly difficult. Many teams are only a win away.
Doubtless many Carlton fans will be looking out for the potential return of former player, and favourite, David Adegbola should he turn out for the visitors. The adaptable right footer was a popular member of the 23/24 squad and won Young Player of the Season that year.
These sides last met way back in the early part of the 16/17 season and the visitors won that encounter 3-1. Form would suggest a home win but this league has been hugely unpredictable already.