Match Preview

Sandbach travel to Avery Fields to league leaders Bournville on Saturday and will play on the synthetic 4G pitch there. Having recruited strongly over the summer as they settle into their brand-new facilities at Sandon Road, the Chocolate Boys are unbeaten this campaign and are everybody’s favourite for automatic promotion. Sandbach beat them home and away last season, albeit that only half of that team is likely to be playing against the Bradwall Road boys this Saturday. Sandbach do however have a reputation for upsetting the pundits in the prediction league and in the last three years beat five of the six sides that ultimately gained promotion at the end of the year. So, they will not be in awe of the opposition and always seem inspired when there is a big challenge.

Sandbach are also pleased to see prop Tom Poole return to the squad after injury and his experience of playing in the National Leagues will help. Sandbach are also preparing by training on the new Lymm 4G pitch this Thursday, to familiarise with the playing conditions in advance of the game. Experience has shown that the bounce and underfoot conditions of the synthetic surface are different and do give the home team an advantage, so this will help counter this to a degree. Having won a difficult game away under lights last Friday in the cup at Wilmslow, Sandbach will be looking to be equally as patient this Saturday and they will certainly need to take all their chances and be robust in defence, if they are to come away like last season with a victory.