MAIDENHEAD make the short trip to Windsor tomorrow (Saturday) for a crucial league clash, kick-off 2.30pm.
The last time the two sides met was in a
pre-season friendly back in August 2001, when Maids breezed past their neighbours in relative comfort.
However, this time they find themselves in the same league – for the first time in a long time – bringing the prospect of a hard fought and enthralling local derby.
Maids are on something of a roll at the moment, with five wins from their last six outings, concluding with a 46-7 romp in the park against Stow-on-the-Wold two week’s ago.
The last four of those games were under caretaker manager Andy Barron, but this week sees the return of Tony Brooks, who will be looking to extend his side’s recent run of results.
Brooks said: “I watched the last game and thought it was a good 40-minute performance.
“We eased off in the second half but the game was won by then, and everyone knew it.
“But all things considered it was a good game and a good performance.”
He was also delighted with the progress of his younger players, who have secured regular 1st team places with some very impressive performances.
However, he was sorry to learn that Barron himself had decided to call it a day and finally hang up his boots.
He said: “Andy did a great job standing in when I was away and I’m very grateful to him.
“As a player he’s decided it’s time to go, but no doubt he’ll make a comeback at some point, as has been his wont.
“We won’t have him playing for us anymore, but we have some youngsters in the side now and they’re performing very well.
“I had set that as one of my objectives at the beginning of the season, to bring some younger players in. It’s all about mixing youth with experience.
“They’re very good players and I have every confidence in their ability. It’s all very encouraging.”
However, having already lost twice this year, Maids have very little room for manoeuvre if they hope to win promotion back to South West 1.
Brooks said: “I think we’re still in the frame.
“But we know we can’t afford any more slip ups and we’re looking for another good performance against Windsor on Saturday.
“I don’t know what to expect from them, but I’m sure we’re a scalp to be had.
“We’re up there to be knocked off.
“It’s not going to be easy, but we’ll play whatever’s put in front of us and set our own standards.”
Windsor are hovering in midtable, with three wins from seven starts this season, and come into tomorrow’s match on the back of a 32-8 humbling at Chippenham.
Windsor club president Peter Blake said: “We haven’t been playing well in the last few weeks but we’re looking to put that right on Saturday. I can’t remember the last time we played Maidenhead in the league, but we’re looking forward to it
“No doubt it will be a tough game but with local derbies you can never tell.
“If we can play as well as we did earlier in the season we have a very, very good chance of beating them.
“But I’m under no illusions. It’ll be a very close game.”