We enter what could be the final weekend of the season knowing a win is a must. A win at The Moat Ground tomorrow would mean Lincoln need to beat Heanor Town to stay in pole position that said Heanor Town need to win to have a chance of nicking the final play off position with AFC Mansfield being strong favourites to win their final two games. Not to forget Gresley Rovers sit just two points outside the relegation zone and know that if they win tomorrow and Kimberley don’t that they would be safe for another season. All to play for.

Tomorrow’s hosts are in fine form winning three of their last four, scoring thirteen goals. In the reverse fixture Tyler Blake had given us the lead before Jenson Cooper cancelled that goal out with nine minutes left to play. Heartbreak at Coronation Park looked to be avoided with the referee awarded the Red Badgers a spot kick with less than two minutes to play, only to see Aaron O’Connor blaze his penalty over the bar. 1-1 it finished.

We left it late last week as we relied on teenager Finnley Commons to score in the 95th minute to rescue a point and keep our automatic promotion hopes alive. Despite a solid first period that saw Tyler Blake hit the post Eastwood went in at the break a goal behind, early into the second period the Red Badgers had to battle back from 2-0 down and when Oliver Robinson poked home Tyler Blake’s goal-ward effort with twenty to play hope was restored. Coronation Park erupted when Commons scored the equaliser deep into added time.

Previous meetings: Tomorrow’s visit to The Moat Ground will be ECFC’s second ever, the first took place over three years ago when Stephen Kirkham took charge on a windy Tuesday night. Stephen Hart gave the hosts a 1-0 lead at half time only to see the lead cancelled out ten minutes into the second half when McKenna Parton struck from outside the box. A fatigued Eastwood offering two substitutes ran out of steam and Gresley ended the game 3-1 victors and went on to earn promotion at the end of the season. Eastwood have actually never beaten Gresley with Saturday afternoon being the fourth meeting between the two clubs.

Player Watch: Rovers boast ex Eastwood fan favourites Jack Andrews, Jacob Sturgess, Jack Thatcher and Sam Moore. Moore and Thatcher have both been on target in recent matches as well as Finlay Barker who has scored three in his last four.

Squad Update: The gaffers said “everyone is fit, everyone trained and everyone is flying going into the final weekend of the season”.

Saturday 19th April 2025
United Counties Football League Premier North
Gresley Rovers vs Eastwood CFC
3pm Kick Off
The Moat Ground, Moat Street, Church Gresley, Swadlincote, Derbyshire, DE11 9RE

#RedBadgers