UP NEXT, at the third attempt of asking, Kimberley Miners Welfare welcome their near neighbours in what has been dubbed “The Ikea Derby”. Table toppers, Eastwood CFC come to The Stag Ground as they bid to maintain their grip on top spot in the league. Kimberley go into the match with a hope of continuing their great run over recent weeks to give themselves a chance of rescuing themselves. They are, however, fully aware of how great the task is this weekend.

Eastwood CFC will make the short trip to Kimberley full of confidence, having already won the first meeting between the two sides this season. After a minor blip in the first match of the year, the Badgers have regained their form, winning their last two matches. In those matches, they’ve scored eight times and have kept a tight ship at the back, keeping two clean sheets along the way.

On Saturday, the first team hosted fifth placed Belper United at the Stag Ground. A scrappy first half saw Belper dominate the first fifteen minutes without really threatening the Kimberley goal. As the miners were finding their way into the match, Belper took the lead after a cross from the left bounced around inside the box and was finally finished for 1-0. It took just twelve minutes for Kimberley to hit back after a twenty five yard volley from Aaron Coyle was parried straight to Lewis Partridge, who coolly finished with a side footed volley from seven yards out. Belper restored their lead on the stroke of half time when a disaster of a mix up at the back saw two Kimberley players leave an easy headed clearance for the ball to drop to a Belper striker who passed the ball into the bottom corner. A scrappy first half came to a close with the score at 2-1 to the visitors. The second half was totally different. Kimberley pressed throughout and were rewarded on seventy minutes as substitute Matt Moffatt equalised after his first shot was saved straight back at him to finish after a low ball in from Dan Tuck. Five minutes later, Kimberley sealed all three points as Zak Sandhu was brought down in the box for Fin Ryder to calmly slot home the spot kick past a goalkeeper who went the right way. A great second half from the miners, who are now just two points away from safety. Full Time - 3-2.

Eastwood CFC’s last match was a 5-0 hammering of relegation-threatened Deeping Rangers at Coronation Park. Goals from Tyler Blake, Aaron Fordjour, Oliver Robinson and a brace from Derek O’Connor sealed the points, with no response from a poor Deeping side.

LAST TIME AROUND

The two sides met in mid August at Coronation Park. In a fairly even first half, Alex Troke netted mid half for Eastwood. Kimberley would go into half time feeling hard done to having created the better chances in the half and were unlucky not to go into the break ahead. The second half, however, was an all too familiar story. Having done so well in the first half, Kimberley suffered several defensive lapses, along with Eastwood stepping things up. Troke scored his second midway through the half, with Craig Westcarr scoring just two minutes later. Tyler Blake scored with eight minutes to go for the match to finish 4-0 to Eastwood.

The two sides met four times last season. Most recently, in April, with Eastwood taking the points through a brace from Terry Atem

The sides met earlier in the season in the Nottinghamshire Cup, again at Eastwood. Atem scored again, along with Marcus Marshall and Derek O’Connor for a 3-0 win to the Red Badgers.

The earlier league fixture at the Stag took place at the end of August last year. Eastwood, again took the result through a 96th minute winner from Kyle Tomlin for the only goal of the game.

The first time the sides met last season was in the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round, again at Coronation Park. Tomlin again scored for Eastwood, along with a brace from O’Connor. This time, Kimberley were able to score through Aaron Coyle, which equalised at the time, but Eastwood went on to score twice more, to take the result.

A LITTLE ABOUT THE OPPOSITION

The club was formed in 2014 following the folding of Eastwood Town. They joined the South Division of the Central Midlands League and entered the FA Vase for the first time a year later. After finishing as runners-up in the South Division in 2016–17, the club won the division the following season and were promoted to the East Midlands Counties League.

In 2021 Eastwood were promoted to the Premier Division North of the United Counties League based on their results in the abandoned 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons.

The club's nickname is the Red Badgers.

Honours
Central Midlands League - South Division champions 2017–18

FINALLY

Both sides will head into the game in a confident mood. Kimberley, while still bottom, will have their tails up having taken ten points from their last four matches along with some very strong performances recently leading up to these matches. Eastwood will be a huge challenge, but what better team to put in a great performance against. Eastwood will want both the bragging rights and the points as they continue their charge to step four.

The match has very kindly been sponsored by our veterans team, who will be in attendance.

We have Priory Celtic girls u13’s along as mascots for this massive match.

We expect Eastwood to bring a large following with them. Please get along to support the boys

Admission prices are as follows
Adults £7
Concessions £4

The bar will be open from 1pm.