Match Preview

Gary Charles begins his management career in earnest on Good Friday as Nuneaton Town return to league action with a trip to Alfreton for a 15:00 kick-off at the Impact Arena. Our opponents, Alfreton Town, haven't beaten the Boro' since doing the double over us in the National League three years ago. There have been six meetings since, with Nuneaton winning three, by a combined score of 8-1, plus three score draws, including a two-all stalemate at the LDJ Solicitors Stadium back in September.

The last meeting at North Street, which has been The Reds' home since 1959, came at the tail end of last season and finished 3-3 as Liam Hearn completed a hat-trick in the last minute to snatch a point for the hosts. Hearn is now at Basford United, so the men to watch will be midfielder Brendon Daniels and forward Craig Westcarr, who both have 11 league goals to their name so far this season.

Nuneaton have had two managerial changes since the clubs last met, Tommy Wright left for Darlington and his successor Dino Maamria departed for Stevenage last week. Alfreton have also made a managerial change since then, with former Lincoln City boss Chris Moyses appointed to replace John McDermott back in January with the club languishing close to the drop zone.

Moyses made an immediate impact, going unbeaten in his first four matches, winning three of them, but things have tailed off since. The Reds have won just two of their nine games since and currently sit 16th, just three points above 20th placed Telford, who have two games in hand. Alfreton have the third worst home record in the league this season (20 points from 18 games), just, already relegated, North Ferriby United and Telford have collected fewer points at home.

Boro's away record doesn't look much better though, 18 points from 17 games sees us stand 15th in that category, though we had won four in a row until the controversial defeat in Leamington almost a fortnight ago. With 59 goals scored, Alfreton are the 8th highest scorers in the league, but only three teams have conceded more than their 62. Overall, the Reds have lost 10 of their previous 13 home games, can the Boro' add to that? And will it be a Good Friday for Gary Charles and the Nuneaton faithful?