Loughborough Students to offer up a serious test for high-flying Doughboys
Wellingborough Town boss Jake Stone is warning his players they face a serious test of their promotion credentials when they entertain in-form Loughborough Students at the Dog & Duck on Tuesday night (ko 7.45pm).
The Doughboys are looking really strong at the moment, with their 4-1 win at Corby Town on Saturday taking them seven points clear at the top of the Pitching-In Northern Premier League Midlands Division table.
Wellingborough have won 11 and drawn one of their 12 matches to date, but on Tuesday they come up against the side sitting second in the form table.
Loughborough have won six and drawn one of their past eight league matches and, after a slow start to the season, have flown up the table.
They arrive at the Dog & Duck sitting in ninth place and just a point outside the play-offs, and Stone is anticipating a difficult night.
"It is a really tough game, it really is, and it is always hard work against them," Stone told Doughboys TV.
"They are now winning more games than they have ever won, and I think they have won something like seven out of eight.
"I think they have only lost one match recently, and they won again on Saturday.
"They are going to be full of confidence, they are full-time student athletes and they are fit.
"There's no doubt we are going to have some bodies that are tired but it's about whether we can use the squad and try to get a positive result again.
"But it is going to be tough and very different to the match on Saturday.
"They are all hard work though, every single game is tough, the results are always difficult to predict, and we just have to keep moving forward and picking up points.
"We have to keep ticking them off and concentrating on that next game."
A win for the Doughboys would see them got 10 points clear at the top of the table.
AFC Rushden & Diamonds are also back in league action on Tuesday night, following their FA Cup exploits at the weekend.
Elliot Sandy's side were 2-1 winners over National League North side Morecambe at Hayden Road, a result that saw them set up a trip to Sky Bet League One side Burton Albion in the first round proper.
But it is back to the bread and butter on Tuesday as Diamonds make the trip to play-off rivals Boldmere St MIchaels.
It is seventh hosting 13th, but, due to their Cup exploits, Diamonds have three games in hand on Boldmere and are just four points behind their hosts.
By Jeremy Casey