Ashby will host their first home match at their home ground in the league since 28th October 2023 aiming to build on their two league wins so far this season. Currently in sixteenth position with games in hand on the teams around them Ivanhoe will be keen to increase their four point gap from the relegation zone.

For Eastwood three points tonight would return them to the top of the table with Lincoln United not playing until Saturday. On the road in the league this season it is four straight wins keeping three consecutive clean sheets.

Despite a poor start to the season Ashby have started to turn a corner with one defat in their last five whilst also keeping two clean sheets, they will also take the positives from an impressive FA Cup run that saw them achieve wins over Coventry Sphinx and Chasetown.

Player Watch: There is just one man to keep an eye on, leading scoring Sam Grouse already has eight goals this season scoring over 40% of Ivanhoe’s total league goals so far. The forward will be looking to beat his total of 41 last campaign that earn’ t him top goal scorer for the division.

Previous Meetings: The NFUSG is a place Eastwood have never won Ball & Thomas going down 2-1 last season and James Jepson falling to a 2-0 defeat in 2019. The last meeting at Coronation Park also ended in favour of Ashby, Aaron O’Connor had cancelled out Chris Acott’s tenth minute effort but a goal on the hour mark from Sam Grouse was enough to send Ashby back to Leicestershire with all three points. The Red Badgers only ever win over tonight’s hosts was the first ever meeting in October 2018 where strikes from Joe Butler and Paddy Webb earned Eastwood a 2-1 victory at Coronation Park.

Squad Update: Martin Ball and Daryll Thomas’ squad picked up a couple of injuries at the weekend with Oliver Robinson and Riece Bertram both ruled out of tonight’s fixture. Phil Watt is also unavailable but Alex Troke is expected to return to the side. Craig Westcarr could start his first match since the away win at Lincoln over two weeks ago whilst Billy Gillies could make his full debut. Ricky Starbuck could start consecutive games for the first time since August.

Tuesday 8th October 2024
United Counties Football League Premier North
Ashby Ivanhoe vs Eastwood CFC
7:45pm Kick Off
NFU Sports Ground Lower Packington Road, Ashby-De-La-Zouch, Leicestershire LE65 1TS

#RedBadgers