MATCH PREVIEW | BRIGHOUSE TOWN (H) NPL EAST

Following the conclusion, on Tuesday night, of our involvement in the cup competitions this season, it is time to get back to the bread and butter of the league and build on the encouraging start to the season.

Our visitors, to Technicas Home of Grimsby Borough, this weekend are Brighouse Town. In stark contrast to ourselves Brighouse have endured a difficult start to season and currently find themselves sat second bottom with only one win in their opening seven games and the worst goal difference in the league of -11. This is a result of having conceded 10 goals in their last three league games. Their only win, to date, came on the opening day of the season against newly promoted Blyth Town with Harvey Booth scoring in a 1-0 victory.

The manager, Grant Black, has been working hard to try and arrest this poor start to the season and has brought in no fewer than 8 new signings this month! Three of which have been in the last week, one of which is Boston United striker, Aidan Durkan who has joined the club on loan. With so many new faces in the squad it can be difficult to get players to gel as a unit, especially when you are only training once or twice a week as a semi-professional club. This task will have been made even harder with the news that club captain, Josh Waldram, has left the club. All signs point to a difficult trip to North East Lincolnshire this weekend but The Wilderness Boys will need to be at their best against a team that are already in desperate need of getting points on the board.

Boro have just as a big a need for three points, albeit for very different reasons. A win on Saturday, could see us rise to 2nd place in the league depending on how Emley get on away to Blyth Town. As you will all be aware, we have enjoyed an unbeaten start to the season with two wins and four draws from our opening six matches. Daniel Barrett and his staff will expect his team to keep that unbeaten run going but will hope for another tick in the win column, with us being at home against a team towards the bottom end of the table. Baz's biggest task this weekend will be to help his lads put the memory of Tuesday's defeat at Halesowen Town to the back of their mind and focus on this big match that is in front of them.

Despite being beaten on six occasions, young goalkeeper, Seb Auton pulled off some superb  saves and will hope to take that form into the game and continue to show us, and his parent club, Grimsby Town what he is all about. In front of him, it is hoped that Sam Topliss will be available for selection, giving the management team more options in the make up of the back four. If available for selection, Topliss will take the arm band with Alex Flett serving the first match of his suspension following his red card last weekend. At the other end of the pitch is where Baz has selection dilemmas with Dayle Southwell expected to start after his goal in midweek and return to fitness, but the positions either side of him being contested by Rio Molyneux, the impressive looking Tom Rennardson, Charlie Burden-Whittleton, Brody Robertson, Luis Adlard and Reece York. Yorkie may find himself playing in a deeper role with the absence of Flett or Baz may have a surprise up his sleeve. 

The fixture against Brighouse has been an ever present one since we got promoted to this level and with a mixture of results over the last three seasons. In the 2022/23 season our visitors did the double over us with an aggregate score of 7-3! However, in the last two seasons, ‘Town’ haven't recorded another victory with two wins for Boro and two draws. Last seasons corresponding fixture was played in front of just 127 spectators with Toppo scoring from the spot just before half time. The club are hoping for more through the gate this weekend and a result more akin to the one played nearly a year ago the date where Boro won 3-0 on the road with goals from Jack Richardson as well as the departed Adam Drury and Scott Fenwick.

FORM GUIDE (last 6)

Grimsby Borough - WDDWDD

Brighouse Town - LLLDLL

We look forward to seeing you all at Bradley on Saturday and helping cheer the boys on to three valuable points.