By Liam Price, photo by Jonathan White
A first ever meeting between the Dabbers and Wellingborough Town awaits in the FA Trophy Qualifying Round on Saturday (3pm kick-off).
Going Very Well
Given the FA Trophy is still only Step 4 teams, Wellingborough are just about the toughest draw the Dabbers could have been handed at this stage.
Nicknamed the Doughboys after a local delicacy in Northamptonshire known as ock ‘n’ dough, they are one of only two teams in the three NPL Step 4 leagues to still have a 100% winning record, along with Bootle. 5 wins, 15 points and a +12 goal difference. If you bring cup games in, it’s been 8 wins out of 10.
The first games they’ve failed to win were in their last 2, an FA Cup tie and replay against Step 3 Kettering Town, with the higher ranked side winning 2-1 in midweek after the first game finished 2-2.
Until Kettering, they had won all of their previous 5 away games by an aggregate score of 15-1, including against our opponents from the last round in Boston Town.
This blistering start to the season unsurprisingly saw Wellingborough’s manager Jake Stone named the NPL Step 4 Manager of the Month for August, covering the Midlands, West and East divisions.
This is their 3rd season in the NPL Midlands after promotion in 2024, after a pair of upper mid table finishes they look to have gone up a couple of gears thus far.
Players to Watch
Jack O’Connor, Zayn Hakeem, George Ball and Danny Draper all have 3 goals or more to their name so far, so it’s safe to say there are goals throughout this team.
Match Information
Tickets are available online HERE or with card or cash on the gate.
Please be careful with parking and avoid parking on the road that leads into the housing estate next to the stadium as it causes bad traffic issues.
Dogs are allowed as long as they are kept on a lead.
A reminder that the Green Rock Group Fan Zone bar now only serves canned and bottled drinks, for draught drinks please use the upstairs bar in the Atherton & Associates Lounge.