ALFRETON Town's fifth consecutive season in Conference North begins this Saturday with a home game against Hyde United (3pm).
After a very good pre-season, 33 goals in eight games, Reds manager Nicky Law now has the onerous task of choosing his first league starting XI with good competition in all departments.
A raft of new signings in the summer appear to have gelled re
ally well and the fans will be hoping the squad carry their pre-season form into the league campaign.
Law will also be hoping for better fortunes than he endured at the start of last season when his side lost their opening three league games.
Last season's league encounters saw Hyde record a very good 3-0 win at the Impact Arena with the Reds winning 2-0 in the return at Ewen Fields.
Both sides will harbour hopes of a winning start to the season and to do so, Alfreton will need to improve on a poor home record against the Tamesiders who have only been beaten once in five visits to the Impact Arena for points in previous seasons.
Law is without last season's top scorer, Brian Cusworth, who is not expected to return for another fortnight having been involved in a car crash a fortnight ago.
Also out injured is Anton Brown (knee) but winger Jimmy Phillips - on loan from Stoke City - has shaken off an ankle injury and could make his competitive debut.
PAST GAMESNorthern Premier League, President's Cup 1994/95 (h) 2-2 John McFadzean (pen), Paul Eshelby (122)
(a) 0-3 (played on Hyde's plastic pitch)
UniBond League Premier Division1996/97 (h) 0-3 (238)
(a) 0-5
1997/98 (h) 0-0 (154)
(a) 1-4 James Bullivant
Conference North 2005/06 (h) 2-0 Chris Howard, Sam Litchfield 281
(a) 3-2 Chris White 2, Mark Blount
2006/07 (h) 2-2 Ryan Clarke, Emeka Nwadike 267
(a) 1-2 Matt Glass
2007/08 (h) 0-3 245
(a) 2-0 Paul Clayton, Peter Knox
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