Shirebrook Town will get a welcome break from league matters tomorrow night when they travel to Central Midlands League Division South side Pinxton FC in the Second Round of the Derbyshire Senior Challenge Cup.

It’s a rearranged fixture, after last week’s tie had to be called off because the pitch at The Welfare Ground was waterlogged.

And it will give Shirebrook manager Kevin Gee the opportunity to see his rebuilt side play together again after their frustrating 1-1 draw with Grimsby Borough at Langwith Road on Saturday.

Gee will also have the chance to check out influential midfielder Adam Shepherd and experienced defender Scott Hartley, two players the new Shirebrook boss has yet to see in competitive action since he took over five games ago.

Shirebrook went out at this stage last season, losing 0-2 at Langwith Road to East Midlands Counties Premier Division Side Borrowash Victoria and Gee will be keen to improve on that, although going on and winning this season’s senior local cup competition might be low on his current list of priorities.

And Pinxton will no doubt prove to be tough opposition, particularly on their own patch and managed from the start of this season by Ben Needham and his assistant by Lee Cook, both with recent Shirebrook connections and both undoubtedly with points to prove against their higher-placed opponents.

Pinxton progressed to the third round of the competition last season, but they went out against one of the ‘bigger’ sides, losing 3-0 away to Ilkeston who eventually went on to win the Senior Cup by beating Matlock Town 2-1 in the final.

Pinxton have taken 28 points from the eighteen league games they’ve played so far this season and they currently sit placed seventh in the table, only six points behind leaders Clifton All Whites and second-placed Bulwell, although both of those sides also have two games in hand on Pinxton.

Kick-off tomorrow is at 7.45pm and it’s a relatively short journey of about thirteen miles from Langwith Road, which will take around thirty minutes to complete by car.

Alternatively, why not leave the car at home and travel on the club bus instead? Seats are priced at £5 return and the bus leaves the Staff Sports & Social Club car park at 6 o’clock for the game. Contact Glen ‘Wath’ Wathall or Dave ‘Flick’ Fletcher as soon as possible to reserve your seat.

The reward for the winners of tomorrow’s tie will be a trip to Evo-Stik First Division South side Mickleover Sports in around three weeks time.

Match Officials:
Referee – Paul Dixon
Assistant One – Carl Jones
Assistant Two – Peter Lang

Click HERE for the Pinxton FC official website.