Witton Albion v Ilkeston (Kick off 3pm)
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Premier Division
Venue Wincham Park
Referee Bob Roberts
Admission Adults £10, Concessions £7 (NUS/OAP), Under 15s Free
Odds (bet365) Witton 6/5, Draw 13/5, Ilkeston 13/8
Last season Witton 2 Ilkeston 1
Witton (from) Sanna (GK), Swift (GK), Barnes, Corbett, Gardner, Harrison, Lea, Moyo, Andrews, Davidson, Dawson, Hall, Hilton, Howard, Sheehan, Bakkor, Harvey
Doubtful none
Injured Koral (toe), Powell (knee), Titchiner (hamstring)
Suspended none
Disciplinary record (last season) Y78 R4
Title odds (betway) 33/1
Ilkeston (from) Smith (GK), Baker, Lane, Maguire, Storey, Wright, Adams, Burrows, Chettle, Gordon, Morgan, Reid, Shaw, Wallace, Williams, Duffy, Richards, Simmons
Doubtful none
Injured none
Suspended none
Disciplinary record (last season) Y50 R8
Title odds (bet365) 25/1
Match pointers
WITTON Albion manager Brian Pritchard is likely to name six new signings in his starting line-up to face Ilkeston on the Premier Division’s opening day.
His side has avoided defeat in four league meetings with the Robins since returning to the Northern Premier League’s top flight, winning three of those.
He will be without injured pair Alex Titchiner (hamstring) and Michael Powell (knee), while newcomer Michael Koral hasn’t featured since injuring a toe in Witton’s first pre-season friendly at Runcorn Linnets.
Albion fans have cause to be optimistic, for their team hasn’t lost a home game on the campaign’s first afternoon since August 2001.
The Northwich outfit has scored in the past six curtain-raisers too.
Visitors Ilkeston will be much-changed from their previous visit to Wincham Park last November, with only five players that started that game still at the club.
They ended the campaign one point adrift of Witton in 17th.
Manager Kevin Wilson could include a face familiar to fans in mid Cheshire – former Winsford captain Jack Lane – in defence.
He completed his squad earlier this week with the addition of David Morgan, released by Nottingham Forest at the end of last term, a likely starter in midfield.
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