Alfreton Town make the journey to Glanford Park, home of Scunthorpe United, known as the Attis Arena for sponsorship reasons, on Saturday for one of the biggest games of the league season in National League North.

It promises to be an intriguing clash between two members of the top seven of the league and one that the Alfreton supporters have been looking forward since the fixtures were released way back in July.

Alfreton`s excellent start to 2024 at the Impact Arena continued last time out on Tuesday evening as the Reds registered a comfortable 2-0 win against Banbury United to stretch the unbeaten home streak to seven matches in all competitions.

The win was rubber stamped by a third straight clean sheet which pleased Reds manager Billy Heath as we now approach the business end of the season with the three points moving Ofton back to fifth place inside the play offs ahead of the fixture

In fact Alfreton know a win against the much fancied Iron on Saturday would take Billy Heath`s just three points behind the pre season promotion favourites with a game in hand.
Jimmy Dean`s side form has taken a turn for the worse of late however with the Lincolnshire side taking just 12 points from their last league outings. Consequently they have made no inroads to Tamworth`s 12 point advantage at the top and the chasing play off pack have closed the gap.
Scunthorpe are winless in their last four and lost 2-1 against South Shields on Tuesday night as pressure on Jimmy Dean begins to grow. The Iron recently lost influential loanee Connor Smith who returned to Scotland to sign for St Johnstone. The Lincolnshire club have brought in reinforcements to get their promotion bid back on track after their transfer embargo was lifted. The versatile Liam McAlinden was brought in with all his National League experience along with Bradford City loanee attacker Dylan Youmbi.
It will of course be the first league visit to Glanford Park for the first team but of course The Reds did previously visit back in November 2008 for a FA Cup Second Round Proper tie after a fairytale run and a first ever qualification for the Second Round Proper. A sterling effort against a Scunthorpe United side riding high in league one at the time was not rewarded as a controversial sending off for Paul Clayton amid foggy conditions led to a undeserved 4-0 defeat for Ofton.

History between the two clubs goes even further back however with Alfreton facing off against Scunthorpe United`s reserves team which were members of the Midland league between 1965 and 1968.

1965/66 Won 3-2 at home and 4-2 away at the Old Showground
1966/67 Lost 3-1 at home and away won 2-1.
1967/68 Won 3-1 at home and won 2-1 away.

GET BEHIND THE REDS ON SATURDAY

Seats on the Supporters Bus are selling fast for the fixture. Call Mark on 07857 558401 to book your spot to get behind the mighty Ofton Reds

ADMISSION:

Early Bird - Adults £18, Concessions/U21/Students £14, Under 18s £8 Under 12s Free
On Matchday Adults £20 Concessions/U21/Students £15 Unders 18s £10 Under 12s Free

You can purchase tickets here - https://www.sufctickets.com/scunthorpeUnited/ASP/selectArea.asp?bookEvent=true&eventID={BD804D10-CD8F-4E58-BF24-F000B93191F3}&homeArea=home