UP NEXT, the reserves are on the 4G at Kimberley Leisure Centre as they face Bilborough TRD who sit fourth from bottom. With the league championship now completely in their own hands, the miners cannot afford to slip up and let the chasing pack back into the hunt. The theory is simple, win all of their matches, win the league. The reality of this will be far from simple, starting on Saturday.

Kimberley are on a seven match unbeaten run, which has seen them take seventeen of the last twenty one points available, racking up thirty five goals along the way, conceding just eight times.

Bilborough TRD come to Kimberley in mixed form, winning two, drawing one and losing four of their last seven games. A highlight will have been a victory over third placed Bingham Town. While not realistically in relegation trouble, TRD will want to take all three points to move their way a little further up the league. Having conceded the joint highest number of goals in the league so far this season, they’ll be very aware of the firepower that Kimberley possesses.

In their last match, the Reserves travelled to second placed East Leake Robins. A close match saw the sides go in goalless at half time. Kimberley took the lead through Louis Fazal early in the second half. The job was made much harder just fifteen minutes later as goalkeeper Ben Rose received his marching orders from the referee, reducing the miners to ten men. East Leake equalised with twenty minutes to go. A final twist came after Kimberley had used all of their substitutes and then suffered an injury, being forced to see the game out with nine men. A superb battling performance, which has given the miners some daylight at the top of the division. F/T 1-1.

Bilborough TRD’s last match was an away trip last weekend to Hucknall Town Reserves, who at the time occupied the spot that TRD now find themselves in. Goals for Hucknall from Aaron Roberts, Oliver Peate and a brace from Trevell Lindo wrapped up a 4-0 win for Hucknall.

LAST TIME AROUND

The two sides met at the Harvey Haddon Sports Village on the first weekend of the season. Lewis Deavin, Matthew Smalley and Louis Fazal scored for Kimberley as Harry Luczko and Theo Brown were the only scorers for Bilborough in a 3-2 win for the miners.

Last season, the two sides met at the Stag Ground at the end of September. Two goals from Brad Mee were enough to take the points as Bilborough replied just once through Callum Jones.

The second meeting of last season came in March last year. Mee was on target again along with Dan Walker in a 2-0 win for Kimberley.

FINALLY

With ten matches to go, the finish post is coming into view. The task of winning all ten will be a big ask, but one that the team are capable of.

Kick off on the 4G is at 3pm