Seventh heaven Reds looking for the great eight

FC United of Manchester are hoping to be boosted by the return of centre-back Adam Jones as the Reds go in search of their eighth consecutive league victory when they entertain Ilkeston at Gigg Lane on Saturday afternoon.

Jones missed last weekend’s 3-0 victory over Marine due to concussion sustained in the midweek 4-2 win at Frickley Athletic but last season’s supporters’ player of the season should be available this Saturday. Last weekend’s victory saw United leapfrog their opponents into third place in the Evo-Stik Premier Division and now the Reds are aiming to close the game on the top two teams; North Ferriby United and Hednesford Town.

Bar the slight disappointment of the midweek Doodson Sport Cup defeat, manager Karl Marginson has been thrilled with the way his players have been playing. He said: By beating a top side like Marine last weekend, we put down a good marker. Marine are a good side and it was one of the biggest games so far this season, but we came out comfortable winners in the end and leapfrogged them in the standings. The hat-trick from Tom Greaves said it all about his performances in a red shirt. He has been fantastic and long may his scoring form continue.

“I said a while back that we needed to go on a run to get back into the mix at the top of the table and we have certainly done that of late. The competition for places is definitely a factor in our good run. The strength in depth we have is actually quite frightening.???

Ilkeston are also on a good run of form; picking up 23 points from their last 12 games, with just one defeat since the end of November. Due to this, Margy knows that they will be anything but easy to beat. He said: “We need to keep up this rich vein of form and that continues with the visit of Ilkeston on Saturday. They are a different side to the one that was set to visit us before Christmas and have made some good loan signings that have strengthened their squad. But, as I’m sure I bore you all by saying every week, if we play the way we can, then no-one in this league should be able to touch us.???