MATCH PREVIEW: League leaders in town

Premier Division leaders, FC United of Manchester, come to Borough Park on Tuesday (7.45pm) with Reds hoping to build on their first win of the season at the weekend by causing an upset.

That will be far from easy against a Mark Beesley side which has made an excellent start to their campaign. They are two points clear at the top having won five of their opening six matches.

Whilst Reds were battling their way to that most welcome victory at Bamber Bridge, FC eventually got the better of Cleethorpes United to register a fourth successive home win.

To date, they have recorded home victories against Leek Town (2-0), Whitby Town (3-1), Guiseley (2-0) and Cleethorpes (2-0) adding to the win at Lancaster City (2-0). Their only defeat was inflicted upon them at Ashton United (1-3).

They are still in the FA Cup and host Chadderton in a local derby on Saturday having disposed of Rossington Main in the previous round.

FC United have been going twenty years (formed in 2005) and have enjoyed two wonderful decades, experiencing far more ‘ups’ than ‘downs’ in that time.

They actually finished below us in the table last season in that congested section which included seven clubs separated by one point.

The head-to-head covers six previous meetings with Reds having won on three occasions, FC successful in two of the games, including their first win at Borough Park in March, and one draw.

Darren Edmondson confirmed on Saturday that Hayden Atkinson wouldn’t be involved on Tuesday and, with Tom Dawson and Nathan Reid both having returned to their former club, will probably rely on a similar squad to the one on duty at Bamber Bridge.

Reds have a free weekend before travelling to Hebburn next Tuesday.