Martin Ball & Daryll Thomas’ men have won just once in 2024 and have failed to score in their last four matches. Today’s opponents Heanor have won just one of their last seven attempts but have only lost one at home since December.

Heanor who started the league campaign on fire loosing one of their first seven soon fell off as the 4-1 defeat to Loughborough Students in September was followed by a 6-0 drubbing by champions Sherwood Colliery. A spike in form through October and November saw the lions win five games on the spin but the a failure to score in four of the following five matches heading in to the Xmas period dented any sort of play off push. In recent weeks Heanor have picked up impressive victories at home beating Melton Town and Lincoln United but they did loose in their last home fixture two days ago, Deeping Rangers who had lost their previous six games travelled back to Lincolnshire with all three points after a 65th minute strike from Robert Conyard.

Player Watch: Since returning to the club in January from Gresley all time top goal scorer Jamie Sleigh has scored five times in seven games helping his side to victory in four of those. In the league when Jamie Sleigh hasn’t featured Heanor have won just once since early November.

Previous Meetings: The Red Badgers just edge the head to head record winning five of the nine meetings loosing the other four. It was Eastwood that took all three points on Boxing Day, Heanor took an early lead that was cancelled out a minute before half time through Tyreece Robinson before a penalty from Aaron O’Connor midway through the second half won the game. The Red Badgers did also win in their last visit to The Town Ground Ayleal Dill with the only goal of the game was enough to take all three points.

Squad Update: The pair in charge are likely to blood a few fresh younger faces today with injuries and suspensions throughout the side affecting availability. Daniel Elliott limped off after just two minutes of the 2-0 defeat to Boston, leaving him a doubt, Oliver Robinson serves his second and final game of his two match suspension today. Chris Robertson is out with a hamstring injury whilst long term injuries to Steven Beejer, Ben Gowing, Marcus Marshall and Ferdinand Bartley are likely to rule the quartet out for the rest of the season. That could see teenagers Finley Commons, Owen Hayes and Toby Woodward make their debuts.

United Counties Premier North Division
Wednesday 3rd April 2024
Heanor Town vs Eastwood CFC
7:45pm Kick Off
The Town Ground, Mansfield Avenue, Derbyshire, DE75 7EN

#RedBadgers