Why should I watch..?

To see if Winsford United can become the first team to prevent in-form Runcorn Town from winning a North West Counties League fixture this season.

Blues lost 4-1 at Northwich Victoria on Saturday but played their best football of the campaign for the first hour before injuries interrupted their momentum.

There were encouraging signs too during a head-to-head with another fancied side, Bootle, during a draw a fortnight ago.

Runcorn netted four times in last season’s corresponding fixture, and have been in similarly free-scoring form this season despite losing leading-scorer Craig Cairns to City of Liverpool over the summer.

Ste Lewis and Mark Reed picked up where he left off.

What they’ve said

“We played well for an hour on Saturday and ought to have been ahead.

“However a couple of injuries meant we had to change personnel and formation and we came undone.

“Fair play to Vics as well – they punished us.”

Lee Duckworth, Winsford United player-manager

Numbers game

A 2-1 win at Runcorn Town in December ended a sequence of five successive defeats for Blues in games against their Cheshire rivals

Man to keep an eye on

Michael Langley

Runcorn are the leading-scorers in the North West Counties League’s top-flight after plundering 12 in three games to date.

That included five in a drubbing of West Didsbury & Chorlton on Saturday, when Mark Reed helped himself to a hat-trick.

It could be a busy night for Winsford’s goalkeeper if the visitors – one of only two teams with a 100 per cent record – bring their shooting boots to Barton Stadium.

Blues team news

Winsford are still without Brandon Moores and Damian Skolorzynski, who are both unavailable.

Meanwhile Sam Howell, Lee Jones and Peter Watling – starters during a 4-1 defeat at Northwich Victoria on Saturday – add their names to that list for tonight’s game.

However player-manager Lee Duckworth can call again on Dean Clarke, who returns to the squad.

Form guide (all competitions)

Blues L L D D

Runcorn W W D W W

Last season’s meetings

Runcorn 1-2 Winsford (December 2, 2017)

Winsford 2-4 Runcorn (October 2, 2017)

Essential information

When Monday, August 20

Kick-off 7.45pm

Address Barton Stadium, Wharton Road, Winsford, Cheshire CW7 3AE

Admission Adults £6, Concessions £4 (over 65s, under 21s, registered disabled), Under 16s £1

Parking Free at the ground