UP NEXT, Eastwood CFC welcome Harrowby United. 10th placed, Harrowby come to Coronation Park bidding to continue their climb up the table. Eastwood go into the match with a hope of continuing their good form and maintaining their three point advantage over Bourne Town.

Eastwood CFC will go in to the game high of confidence, having already won the first meeting between the two sides this season. After a minor blip in the first match of the year, the Red Badgers have regained their form, winning their last three matches. In those matches, they’ve scored eleven times and have kept a tight ship at the back, keeping two clean sheets along the way.

The visitors on the other hand, make the trip on Saturday off the back of a 2-1 win over Shirebrook Town courtesy of goals from Harrison Gee and Elliot King. The win that ensured the Arrows stayed unbeaten for the third game running after ending a run of one win in eight prior to their 4-0 win at Wisbech at the end of January.

On Saturday, the first team visited bottom placed Kimberley Miners Welfare at the Stag Ground. A scrappy first half saw Eastwood dominate the half without really threatening the Kimberley goal. As the hosts were starting to get into the game, Jake Wright was adjudged to have been tripped at the front post following a Declan Dunn corner, referee John Stevens had zero hesitations and pointed straight to the spot. Skipper Aaron O’Connor stepped up and sent the Miners keeper the wrong way to break the deadlock. The second half was a similar story, with Eastwood having large parts of the possession but struggling to break down a resolute Kimberley defence. Eastwood did manage to double their lead with twenty minutes left to play after Terry Hawkridge struck a free kick from just outside the area that took a big deflection off the ball to wrong foot Allsop in the home goal. The hosts hit back thirteen minutes later through substitute Aaron Coyle who always seems to score in this fixture, that goal made for a nervy ending to which Eastwood put to bed four minutes into injury time when Tyler Blake and Terry Hawkridge played a cross field one-two allowing Hawkridge to release Craig Westcarr who finished well from a tight angle. Full Time 1-3.

Previous meetings: The two sides met on the opening day of the season at Dickens Road at a slightly later kick off time of 6pm as part of the UCL Groundhopper weekend. In a fairly even first half, Aaron O’Connor netted from the penalty spot mid half for Eastwood after Tyler Blake was brought down, Blake then got on the scoresheet after getting on the end of a cute back heel from Alex Troke to give the Red Badgers a 2-0 lead at the break. After a close contest in the opening 45 minutes no one for saw what was to come in the second 45. Captain O’Connor completed his hattrick inside ten minutes of the second half to give the visitors a 4-0 lead. Harrowby did get a goal back in the 63rd minute through Harry Allcock, this proved to be just a consolation as goals in the 89th, 91st, 93rd and 96th minute earned the travelling Red Badgers their biggest ever opening day win, in their biggest ever win at step 5 in their biggest away win ever.

The only previous meeting between the two sides took place in September 2015. When Eastwood CFC made their debut in the FA Vase and welcomed Harrowby to Coronation Park. Step 7 side ECFC took a surprise 9th minute lead through Matt Brian but the lead was quickly turned on its head with two goals in two minutes to give the visitors a 2-1 lead at half time. United added a third mid way through the second period to confirm their place in the next round.

Player Watch: Since the turn of the year Harry Allcock has found his shooting boots, the midfielder has netted three goals in four games so far in 2025 to take his goal tally to seven in sixteen matches after missing a large portion of the season. England deaf goalkeeper Alex Smith has been standout performer since signing back in September, the 34-year-old saved a penalty and kept a clean sheet on his debut in a 5-0 win over AFC Mansfield since then the shot stopper has picked up a total of five clean sheets in fifteen appearances earning three man of the match awards.

Squad Update: Jermain Hollis, Aaron Opoku and Oliver Robinson are all doubts for the match on Saturday, whilst Aaron O’Connor looks to have recovered from a knock he picked up that saw him substituted against Kimberley last weekend. Daniel Elliott will be aiming to start four consecutive games for the first time since joining in September 2023. Sam Wilson and Declan Dunn will both be confident of maintaining their record of appearing in every game so far this season.

Saturday 15th February 2025
United Counties Football League Premier North
Eastwood CFC vs Harrowby United
3pm Kick Off
Coronation Park, Chewton Street, Eastwood, NG16 3HB

We expect Harrowby to bring a few supporters with them. Please get along to support the boys.

Admission prices are as follows
Adults £7 | Concessions £5 | Under 16’s £3 (or FREE with a paying adult)

The bar will be open from 1pm

#RedBadgers