It's a league and FA Vase weekend as Derbyshire's football teams continue their campaigns from step two all the way down to step nine in the football pyramid.
Derby have a bizarre situation in their Saturday afternoon fixture, as they visit Hull City for the second time in the space of five days, this time in the Sky Bet Championship after hammering the Tigers 4-0 in the Carabao Cup second round to earn their third victory on the bounce in all competitions. The Rams will be hoping for their third straight league win after a rocky start to life under Frank Lampard.
On the back of four league defeats on the spin, Chesterfield have the tough task of welcoming in-form Leyton Orient in a fixture which only four years ago was a League One contest. A win for the Spireites could lift Martin Allen's side back into the top half of the National League table.
Like Derby, Alfreton are enjoying their own sunny spell, heading into Saturday after earning three consecutive victories in the National League North. The fourth-placed Reds next travel to Darlington, a team who are yet to win on home turf.
An all-Derbyshire derby takes place in the Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division, with Mickleover taking on Buxton at the Don Amott Arena. Both sides are level on points with five a piece, whilst a point below are Matlock who visit Workington who are also level on points with the Gladiators.
After Monday's dramatic derby victory over Belper, Gresley host Tadcaster Albion in the Evo-Stik NPL East Divison, while the Nailers look to rectify their defeat when they visit Ossett United. In the West Division, pointless Glossop travel to Kidsgrove Athletic in search of their first points of the season.
Rounding off the league fixtures are South Normanton and Long Eaton, who host St. Andrews and Westfields respectively in the Midland Football League Premier Division with just one win between them so far - South Normanton being the team with no points to their name.
The first round of FA Vase qualifying takes place today, with two Derbyshire teams in contention for a place in the second round of qualifying. MFL Premier Division table-toppers Ilkeston take on Gedling Miners Welfare away from home, whilst Staveley visit Selby Town.
Comments