Romans ready to return home after a solid start on the road

There were plenty of celebrations for Wellingborough Town as they beat Burnham 3-2 in the FA Vase last weekend. Picture by Alison Bagley

The Romans share their Alfred Street home with Irchester Cricket Club, which resulted in their first five league matches all being played away from home.

But boss Steve Sargent has been pleased with what he has seen so far with three wins and two losses coming from those five games.

Sargent has started the season with a similar squad to the last campaign with one notable addition in the form of former Norwich City and Coventry City midfielder David Bell, who also had a spell as manager at Corby Town.

And with him on board and his squad being another year older and wiser, Sargent is happy with what he has at his disposal.

And Sargent said: “The players are another year older and a little bit more experienced. And by adding Belly to it, we have added that extra bit of quality.

“We share the ground with the cricket club so it means we have to play away from home at weekends in the early part of the season.

“We have picked up nine points from 15 in the away matches we have had and I am pleased with that return to be honest.

“There are a lot of good teams in this division this season and Sileby are one of them.

“It will be a tough game but we have got to back ourselves at home.”

Sargent’s team go into the clash on the back of one of the best results in the club’s recent history after they won 2-1 after extra-time at higher-ranked Arlesey Town in the second qualifying round of the Buildbase FA Vase last weekend.

They were then handed a tie at Deportivo Galicia, who knocked out Burton Park Wanderers last Sunday, in the first round on October 13.

And Sargent added: “We did go into it as underdogs because they are third in the table in the level above us.

“But the lads were fantastic on the day.

“And by the end, I think we thoroughly deserved the victory.

Wellingborough Town also made progress in the FA Vase after a dramatic late winner gave them a 3-2 victory over Burnham at the Dog & Duck. They will now travel to London Colney in the first round.

Desborough Town held their nerve from the penalty spot to seal a shoot-out success over Daventry Town in the first round of the NFA Hillier Senior Cup on Tuesday

night.

The teams were level at 1-1 after 90 minutes but it was Ar Tarn who advanced 5-4 on spot-kicks.

There was disappointment for Wellingborough Town and Rothwell Corinthians in the Hillier Cup, however.

The Doughboys lost 3-1 at Brackley Town Saints on Wednesday night while Corinthians went down 2-1 at ON Chenecks.

This weekend's fixtures

Future Lions United Counties League

Premier Division: Boston Town v Whitworth, Cogenhoe v Newport Pagnell, Deeping v Eynesbury, Harborough v Sleaford, Kirby Muxloe v Wellingborough, Leicester Nirvana v Daventry Town, Peterborough Northern Star v Oadby, Pinchbeck v Desborough, Rothwell Corinthians v Holbeach.

Division One: Aylestone Park v Holwell Sports, Huntingdon v Birstall United, Irchester v Sileby Rangers, Lutterworth Town v Bourne, Melton v Lutterworth Athletic, St Andrews v Blackstones.

NFA Junior Cup

First round: Rushden & Higham v Wollaston Victoria, Woodford United v Thrapston.