AFC Mansfield will look to capitalise on a weekend off by picking up their first three points of the year, up against a strong Handsworth side.
Previous meeting
The Bulls brought a difficult run of form to an end last time these two sides met, which came in late September, as a run of five matches without a win ended at the Forest Town Arena.
Recently appointed club captain Thomas Cropper was the hero, netting in the 85th minute to earn the Bulls a crucial three points in a narrow 1-0 victory.
Opposition insider
Name: Handsworth FC
Manager: Russ Eagle
Founded: 2014
Nickname: The Ambers
Stadium: Express Worktops Stadium, Sheffield, S9 4PA
Ticketing and admission
Adults: £5
Concessions: £3
Form guide
The Bulls will look to pick up their first victory of 2022, after being denied late on at Emley AFC nearly two weeks ago.
A late strike from Charlie Smith cancelled out Cropper's earlier opener, granting Mansfield a point. Prior to the match, the Bulls had been beaten by Maltby Main after goals from Reagan Waud and Johnathan Williams.
Handsworth on the other hand will look to continue their perfect start to the new year with a third consecutive victory, after back-to-back victories over Penistone Church and Athersley Recreation.
The run is needed for the Ambers after a previously poor spell of one win in eight, as Eagle's side climbed to fifth and look to continue their promotion charge.
Bucko's thoughts
Phil Buxton: "Lads were training Tuesday and Thursday, we were doing an in-house game on Saturday so the boys don't have too much time off as match fitness is obviously really, really key. We got some under-21's and some under-18's down on Saturday morning and had a game to keep the boys fresh and then we go again for Handsworth away.
"The remit at the start of the season was to bring through as many young players as we possibly can, and as you have seen today [Emley] and as you'll have seen from squads previously it's exactly what we're trying to do, we're trying to develop these players and progress them further and that gives us another opportunity on Saturday to see some more."
Commentaires