On Saturday Hednesford will look to make it two league wins in a row for the first time this season when St Ives make the journey from Cambridgeshire to Staffordshire. The Ives are currently sitting in a comfortable mid-table position with 30 points from 22 games, some 11 points off the final Play-Off position. They have already got the better of The Pitmen this season following a 2-0 win at Westwood Road on 26th November 2022 with goals from Kieran Higgs and Nabil Shariff in front of a crowd of 190. Hednesford will be looking to replicate last season’s form on Saturday though when they did the double over the visitors, winning 4-2 in St Ives on 23rd October 2021 and 2-1 at Keys Park on 23rd March 2022.

St Ives have a decent record on the road in 2022/23, winning four and drawing one of their nine away games while losing four to Needham Market (2-4), Mickleover (2-3), Barwell (1-3) and Rushden & Diamonds (1-2). Hednesford will have to keep an eye on their front two, Johnathan Edwards and Nabil Shariff who have scored 32 goals in all competitions this season. A familiar face in their squad is Enoch Andoh who had a brief spell with The Pitmen in 2019/20.

On the transfer front, St Ives like Hednesford have been busy, signing three players on loan before their game with Mickleover last Saturday. Kellan Hickinson, an attacking midfielder has joined from Peterborough United while 18-year-old goalkeeper James Dadge has come in from Northampton Town. The final arrival is defender Ben Toseland who played for the club last season before joining National League North club Kettering Town. Another loanee, Kieron Higgs will remain with St Ives for the rest of the season while defender Kane Lewis has left the club.

Saturday’s game will kick off at the regular time of 3pm with the gates and bars opening at 1pm. Usual league admission prices will apply.