Match Preview: Cradley Town (A), Saturday 15th February, 3PM

Date: Saturday 15th February 2025
Time: 3pm
Opponent: Cradley Town FC
Venue: 48a Beeches View Avenue, Halesowen, B63 2HB
Admission Prices: £8 Adults, £6 Concessions

Nuneaton Town's tough week continues as they visit 5th placed Cradley Town on Saturday afternoon.

Fresh from a 2-0 win at Coton Green on Wednesday, another difficult away trip awaits. Nuneaton however will be backed by over 100 fans once again, as two full coaches make the trip, and the support will make a huge difference as Nuneaton Town look to bring a first league title to the town this century. In honour of the first heavenly birthday of our beloved volunteer/fan Alan ‘Chelsea’ Hudson, we are encouraging fans to bring along their flags and wearing their football badges.

Nuneaton are on an unbelievable run of late, winning their last 11 games, 10 of those in the league. Cradley themselves have won 8 of their 10 games, losing to Bilston Town and Ingles in that time, and scoring for fun in their wins. In fact between them Nuneaton Town and Cradley Town have scored the most in the league, a combined total of 180.

This will be Nuneaton Town's first visit to Cradley Town, the second of three grounds the two sides play each other at this season, the third of which will be Walsall FC, after both sides qualified for the Birmingham Midweek Floodlit Cup Final on Wednesday 30th April. In the first meeting at The Oval on 26th October, Nuneaton put in a solid performance to win 4-1, with goals from James Harrison, Dominic Perkins, Louis Baker and Harry Jackson.

As things stand in the table, Nuneaton Town are in first with 81 points from 33 games, 13 clear of second placed Heather St John's who visit Wednesfield. Cradley Town have 61 points from 30 games and sit in 5th, and their good run of form has brought them in with a chance of the play offs.

With Stuart Hendrie back from injury, Nuneaton have now practically a fully fit squad to choose from. They know they need just 7 wins from the final 9 games at most to secure the Midland League Division 1 title, can they tick another one off on Saturday?

TRAVEL:

Directions from Nuneaton town centre:

Take the A444 south and then M6 towards Birmingham, leave at J8 to take the M5 south, leave at J3 and turn right at the roundabout towards Halesowen (Manor Way A456). At the next roundabout turn right onto Grange Road, then turn right onto Queensway A459, turn left at the roundabout onto New Road A458. Take the 2nd exit at the next roundabout onto Stourbridge Road A458, and after one mile turn left onto Beecher Road East. Take the next left onto Abbey Road, follow the road to the end and turn right onto Beeches View Avenue, the ground is on the left down a driveway.

Public transport:

Recommended journey - take the 12:09 train to Birmingham New Street arriving at 12:38, walk to Colmore Row and take the 9 Platinum bus to Stourbridge at 12:51, getting off at Foredraft Street at 13:37, the ground is around a 15 minute walk away down Meres Road and Tree Acre Grove onto Beeches View Avenue.

Return journey, leave in time to take the return bus at 17:40, arriving in Birmingham at 18:41, then take the 18:52 train from Birmingham New Street arriving at Nuneaton at 19:20