Match Preview: Hartshead AFC

We welcome Hartshead AFC to Barr Field on Saturday as Dan Marshall’s side look to halt a two-match winless streak, however with our visitors also in the same boat, it’s going to be a scrap for the points!

The game kicks-off at 2:30pm and it looks like being a mixed bag of weather with rain forecast as well as heavy cloud!

With our promotion aspirations taking another hit last weekend following an entertaining, but ultimately fruitless 5-3 defeat against leaders Hall Green United, we need to get back to winning ways, but having played Hartshead before, we know that they are a difficult team to break down. That match may have ended 3-1 to us (goals from Will Bates (2) and Rob Holiday) but we will have to be at the top of our game to repeat the feat again!

At present, our visitors lie in 8th place. On the road they have won five of the ten games that they have played with another point coming with a recent 2-2 draw against Kippax FC. Goalswise, they have scored an impressive (6th highest away record) 30 goals whilst conceding just 17 (joint 2nd lowest away record).

Hartshead will be missing two players for this clash, with both Dayne Laycock and Stephen Smith ruled out through suspensions (information taken from the FA website). Rangers may not have any suspension worries, but with several players picking up knocks in recent weeks, the Gaffer will be running his eye over a few last-minute fitness tests.

The referee for this match is Mr Mick Spicer. Mr Spicer has taken charge of 19 games already this campaign, including three of our previous matches. His disciplinary record stands at 32 yellow cards and 1 red. We, as always, wish Mr Spicer a pleasant time whilst he is at Barr Field.

We would also like to extend a warm welcome to our visiting team, officials and supporters. The gates to the ground will be open from approximately 12:30pm and you are more than welcome to come and join us for a drink in our clubhouse. We will be serving our matchday special for just £2.00 per bottle, and there will also be a great range of both alcoholic and soft drinks for you to buy before, at half-time and after the game.

Also, if you have any spare pennies and would like to donate them to a great cause, we will also have our prostate Cancer UK collection boxes around the clubhouse. You can also buy one of their great Men United Pin Badges for a pound (or two!) from these boxes as well.

Due to previous commitments, there may be no match media from this game. We would like to apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause.

League Form (last five matches)

Rangers W W W L L

Hartshead W L W L L

Leading League Goalscorer

Rangers Charlie Yates 9 goals

Hartshead Jack Rodgerson 14 goals