Déjà vu is the case for our first home game of the season with Grantham as this was the exact scenario last season. In fact, there are many similarities with this season and last. Last season we travelled to the North West for our opening fixture but returned empty handed with an odd goal defeat. On Saturday we again travelled to the North West and again returned home empty handed after an odd goal defeat. So, does this mean that the game with Grantham will be yet another draw like last season. Only time will tell.

Last season this game finished 1-1 with our goal from Louis Briscoe on 61 minutes cancelled out by an equaliser 5 minutes later. Briscoe is one of only 7 of that squad that are still with us now. However, a more appealing result would be a repeat of our victory away at Grantham last season, which saw us record a 5-0 victory, with all 5 goals coming via headers from 5 different players.

Many of the fans who travelled to Lancaster Saturday were not happy with the first half performance, but we all saw a spirited second half fightback which showed the potential of the squad, and had lady luck gone our way we could easily have turned the game in our favour. The Lancaster game was certainly a game of two halves and perhaps a draw would have been a fair result. That was not to be, so we start again to get some points on the board against a Grantham side who beat many peoples title favourites, F C United. A crowd of 821 saw them win by the odd goal in five with a winner two minutes from time. The scorer of their first two goals was from new signing Craig Westcarr. We will remember him last season playing for Matlock, ending the season as the Gladiators’ top scorer. He will no doubt be one to watch, but he is only one of several new signings in the Grantham squad.

All the predictions appear to add up to potential thriller that could go either way, so let’s ensure the Shed end and yet again be the 12 man. See you all on Tuesday.

Games played on August 20^th this century

2001      Ilkeston                A             2-2         Southern League

2002      Ilkeston                H            2-0         Southern League

2005      Hyde                     A             3-1         Conference North

2011      Stocksbridge       A             0-1         Northern Premier League

2013      Barwell                H            2-3         Northern Premier League

2016      Frickley                H            3-2         Northern Premier League