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PREVIEW | Maltby Main (H)


The Bulls are back in action almost immediately as Maltby Main are the next to visit the Forest Town Arena.


Matt Chatfield hopes to return his side to winning ways after a gut-wrenching defeat to Bridlington Town on Saturday.


Victory could lift AFC to 15th if Handsworth fail to pick up points against Silsden.


The game kicks off at 7:45pm.

 

Last Time Out


Saturday's contest was one which could have been won or lost in the dying seconds, but unfortunately the latter was the result for AFC as high-flyers Bridlington came from behind to snatch victory in injury time.


Ross Duggan fired in a goal of the season contender from 35 yards with just five minutes played, finding the net via the crossbar to send AFC into a flying start.


The rest of the first half was dominated by the visitors, who eventually levelled when Niah Payne capitalised on Mansfield's failure to clear their lines.


After Hugo Warhurst and Town's James Hitchcock both made important saves to keep the scores level, the tie could have been won on the stroke of injury time when Gavin King fired over a half-open net from just yards out, but it was Billy Logan who won it for the Seasiders in the first minute of additional time as another key mistake was punished.

 

The Opposition


Tuesday night is certainly anticipated to be an entertaining spectacle involving two sides who have found new form in 2020.


Maltby have enjoyed a somewhat late resurgence up the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division table; the Miners have won six and lost just two of nine games since the turn of the new year, lifting them up to seventh in the table.


Ten points off the league's three promotion spots, Maltby's promotion hopes are far from extinct, but it would take some feat to catch up with the other promotion contenders.


The last meeting between these two sides saw AFC progress to the fourth round of the NCEL League Cup on penalties after Maltby came back from 2-0 down to claim a draw at Muglet Lane.


 

Team News


Kian Sketchley will serve the final game of his three-match suspension after receiving a red card in the 2-0 win over Athersley, meaning he will be available for selection for Saturday's trip to Penistone.


Winger Cameron Dear, meanwhile, could see his name return to the team sheet after missing out on Wednesday's win at Albion Sports and last weekend's defeat to Bridlington.

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