Long Buckby boss Scott Goodwin wants his side to be party-poopers at St Ives this weekend.
The Saints will be toasting their 125th year of existence when the Bucks head to Westwood Road on Saturday.
But Goodwin wants his men to spoil the celebrations by claiming a win against the current UCL Premier Division table-toppers.
“That history will be at the back of their minds and they are expecting a big crowd there on Saturday,” said Goodwin.
“We have agreed to a 4pm kick-off so they can get some kids’ games in first and we will also stay for a beer with them after, but we want to upset them in the 90 minutes.
“We do want to put a dampener on their celebrations and the only thing we want is the three points.”
The Bucks will go there in good form, overcoming a slow start to the season to secure six wins in their last eight league games, including a 6-1 drubbing of Irchester last weekend.
They also took a point off St Ives in the early-season meeting at Station Road and Goodwin is relishing the prospect of another clash with a side who can boast 14 wins from 18 league games.
“Whoever we’re playing against, we’ve got to compete and perform,” said Goodwin. “We’ve got St Ives on Saturday and Quorn on Tuesday night so those will be good tests of the form we’re in.
“We deserved a point against St Ives at home and though they’ve got good form and are top for a reason, my squad just keep improving.
“It’s a fantastic place to be at the moment, as every club is when you’re winning games.”
COGENHOE UNITED
Cogenhoe United boss Andy Marks is adamant his side can cope without Matty Gearing – after the winger opted to sign for AFC Rushden & Diamonds.
Gearing grabbed a goal in the 6-0 thrashing of S&L Corby last Saturday and was then approached by Diamonds, who made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.
Marks is understandably disappointed to lose the player, who looked set to go to a higher level last season when he was given a chance by Brackley Town.
But that move never materialised and he is now dropping down a division to UCL Division One, hoping to help ambitious Diamonds clinch promotion.
“It’s a bit of a loss but he hasn’t been as good this year as he was last,” said Marks, who has boosted his squad with the signing of defender Ross Harris from Woodford United. “Hopefully we won’t miss him too much.
“You can’t blame the lad for going because he’ll double his money there, but I feel we can cope without him because we’ve got more experience in the squad this year.
“We’re a better side with him in it but I’m sure we’ll be okay.”
The Cooks will look to build on last weekend’s league win with another on Saturday, as they head to Irchester United.
While Marks’s men won 6-0 last weekend, the Romans lost 6-1 at Long Buckby, and the Cogenhoe boss expects his side to claim three points at Alfred Street this weekend.
“I don’t expect them to be better than us in terms of ability,” he said. “If we do the basics right we can win and I expect us to get three points to build on last weekend’s win.”
ROUND-UP
Sileby Rangers will be hoping to get their season back up and running on Saturday.
Glenn Botterill’s men have seen their last two matches get postponed, and that has allowed Oadby to regain top spot in the table.
Sileby are scheduled to entertain Rothwell Corinthians at Fernie Fields tomorrow.
Elsewhere, Bugbrooke St Michael’s are on the road as they travel to Olney Town, ON Chenecks entertain Burton Park Wanderers and Spencer go to Raunds.
UCL FIXTURES
Saturday, November 10
Knockout Cup, first round: Newport Pagnell Town v Yaxley, Huntingdon Town v Oadby Town.
Reserve Supplementary Cup, Group one: Bugbrooke St Michaels v Olney Town, Cogenhoe United v ON Chenecks.
Group two: Rushden & Higham United v Thrapston Town, Wellingborough Whitworth v AFC Kempston Ro v ers.
Group three: Eynesbury Ro v ers v Blackstones, Peterborough Northern Star v Huntingdon Town,
Yaxley v Bourne Town.
Group four: Burton Park Wanderers v Stewarts & Lloyds Corby, Harborough Town v Desborough Town.
Premier Division: AFC Kempston Ro v ers v Boston Town, Blackstones v Shepshed Dynamo, Desborough Town v Sleaford Town, Holbeach United v Wellingborough Town, Irchester United v Cogenhoe United, Quorn v Peterborough Northern Star, Spalding United v Harborough Town, St I v es Town v Long Buckby, Stewarts & Lloyds Corby v Deeping Rangers.
Division One: AFC Rushden & Diamonds v Harrowby United, Bourne Town v Eynesbury Rovers, Buckingham Town v Wellingborough Whitworth, Northampton ON Chenecks v Burton Park Wanderers, Northampton Sileby Rangers v Rothwell Corinthians, Olney Town v Bugbrooke St Michaels, Raunds Town v Spencer, Thrapston Town v Rushden & Higham United
Reserve Division Two: Oadby Town v Irchester United, Rothwell Corinthians Reserves v Raunds Town.
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