Match preview: Alfreton v Mansfield

Alfreton Town begin 2013 with a home local derby at the Impact Arena against Mansfield Town on New Year’s Day.
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Football

Reds boss Nicky Law is without Leigh Franks who will be serving a one-match suspension after picking up his fifth caution of the season on Boxing Day.

There are also doubts over central defender and captain Darran Kempson who has a slight hamstring strain and left-back Connor Franklin who has been ill over Christmas.

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However, Law welcomes back both Theo Streete and Jon Stewart from one-game suspensions as the Reds begin a run of three big home league games in a week with Dartford visiting on Saturday and Wrexham next Tuesday.

Thanks to waterlogged pitches, neither side has played since the Boxing Day game at the One Call Stadium which the Reds won 2-1 thanks to goals from Paul Clayton and Ben Tomlinson after the hosts had taken the lead through John Dempster.

On the road in the league this season, Paul Cox’s Stags side have won two, drawn two and lost five of their nine games played so far, scoring 13 and conceding 22.

The wins have come at Kidderminster Harriers (3-2) back in August and at Macclesfield Town (3-0) on November 20th. Points were shared in draws at AFC Telford United (2-2) and Nuneaton Town (1-1).

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Defeats have been tasted at Gateshead (1-4), Grimsby Town (1-4), Ebbsfleet United (1-3), Cambridge United (1-4) and Dartford (0-2).

It is also a huge week for Mansfield who are bound to have at least one eye on their massive FA Cup third round home game with Liverpool next Sunday.

ALL TICKET

The New Year’s Day game is an ALL TICKET fixture with segregation in place and visiting supporters should enter the Impact Arena stadium via the away turnstiles at the Alma Street end of the ground only.

All supporters should note that the game kicks off at the earlier than usual time of 1pm and fans are advised to arrive in plenty of time for the game which is likely to attract the biggest home attendance of the season so far.

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