Hungerford Town v Slough Town
Where: Bulpit Lane, RG17 OAY
When: 6th April 2019
K.O 3PM
Only 5 games to go and this Berkshire Derby has a lot at stake. Visitors Slough Town still have an outside bet of a place off place, knowing a win at Bulpit Lane is essential. Hosts Hungerford have completed an unbeaten March and looking for their fourth win on the bounce to try and avoid the drop zone just below. If Gloucester City don’t win at Eastbourne and Hungerford get the result they need then a 5 point gap will open up. With just 4 matches to play afterwards a 5 point gap could be crucial especially with Bath and league leaders Torquay still to face. Saturday will be no easy ride; a workmanlike Slough side will come for the points in what should be a thriller derby game.
Form guide- The visitors come into this match on a 5 game unbeaten streak though they did lose to Marlow Town in the Berks and Bucks cup a week and a half ago. In the league they’ve recently drew 2-2 with St Albans and beat Woking 1-0 away. The visitors are also on an impressive 5 game unbeaten streak. They’ve won their last 3 matches to Hampton and Richmond, Billericay and Eastbourne.
Team news- Manny Williams picked up a groin strain last weekend v St Albans but still took part in training on Thursday night. Injured striker Ben Harris is still not available therefore attacker Dan Roberts has joined the squad after scoring two goals in two games for Windsor. The Crusaders have confirmed left back Matt Jones is out for the rest of the season. Noah Chesmain has come in on loan from Colchester United to fill the void. Dan Bailey is the only other definite absentee.
Star man- With the absence of striker Ben Harris in recent weeks, experienced midfielder Lee Togwell has stepped up with 3 goals in the last 5 league games. When Josh Martin left Hungerford a month ago, James Rusby stepped in to fill his centre back role. Since then Rubsy has scored two goals and has kept three clean sheets in 4 games. Seems like no one is missing Martin after all.
Head to head- These sides have already met twice this season with Slough prevailing both times, 2-0 at Arbour Park and 2-1 at Bulpit Lane in the Berks and Bucks cup. Games between these two go back to 1963 and they have a rich history of coming up against one another since.