Holbeach Utd v Spalding Utd (tomorrow, 7.45pm): FOR the final time this season, local bragging rights are on the line in the ‘South Holland clasico’ at Carter’s Park.
The Tigers couldn’t really come into the derby clash in worse form, having failed to win any of their last six games, while the Tulips ended a near-two month losing streak by beating Peterborough Northern Star 4-1 on Easter Monday.
For hosts Holbeach, the rearranged third clash with Spalding is the third match of a four-game week – something that doesn’t sit well with boss John Chand.
“This game shouldn’t be played now, it’s nonsense,” blasted Chand, who is without influential skipper Jamie Stevens. “Both teams are without a game a week on Saturday, so why not then?
“It is the kind of match that the lads should want to play in, though. We need a win to get back on track, but they’ll want to beat us for sure.
“Depending on how the King’s Lynn game goes, I may need to make changes.”
The trip up the A151 represents Spalding’s final fixture of a pretty dismal campaign.
Although the game is a dead rubber for Pat Rayment’s side, they have strikers Greg Smith and Ricky Miller available again and are aiming to finish with a flourish.
Rayment said: “Of course, we want to beat them. It doesn’t matter much in the grand scheme of things, but I want us to finish well.
“I can’t emphasise enough how important it is that we compete and work hard.
“If we don’t match them I worry, if we do we’re capable of springing a surprise.”
Matt Warfield, one of Holbeach’s popular home-based players, will play no part in the derby after telling Chand he doesn’t wish to be selected for the remainder of the season on fitness grounds.
Chand admitted he was “disappointed” by his decision, but has accepted it.
Holbeach won 2-0 the last time the two met at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field in the UCL League Cup, with the first UCL Premier Division clash going the way of Spalding (2-0).
Follow @LPFSport on Twitter for live updates from the game.