Despite us thinking our start to the season has been somewhat frustrating, Hednesford have had real problems, as their managers recently left to fill the void left by Steve Kittrick getting the sack at Telford. They lost 3-0 at home to FCUM on Saturday but bounced back with a big 4-1 win at Worcester.
It seems unlikely that the new boss will be in place before the game, but players will doubtless keen to impress ahead of the new manager's arrival. NEw gaffer syndrome and all that.
Hopefully the 5 days has given Zak Mills the chance to get fit (we need him). But he will be best used as a full back surely as Pidge and Stones look good in the middle and I have reservations about Roberts as a full back.
Results at Keys Park have been mixed. We won 1-0 in 2009, lost 4-2 in 2014 and won 2-1 earlier this calendar year
It's a good ground (I'd certainly like them 2 large terraces at our new place) and an added bonus of being local to me.
TRAINS
Sadly, like many away games, the return trip is the problem here, because at Nottingham there is only a 1845 and 2050 train home- no 1945 which would be ideal.
I'd recommend buying your tickets in 2 stages- Boston to Derby and Derby to Hednesford day returns. Both cost £18.90 (without railcard discount of 1/3), this is because Hednesford can be accessed by going to Brum (then north of the Rugeley Line) or by changing at Tamworth & Rugeley T.V. (then south towards Brum)
OUTBOUND TIMES (easy bit)
Boston-Nottingham 0850-1022
Nottingham-Birmingham N.S. 1041-1155
Birmingham N.S. to Hednesford 1212-1253
(you could leave 1 hour later and get in at 1353 too) It is about 20 mins walk from the station to the ground. I'd recommend the Cross Keys Hotel as a nice pub along the way- sure others would comment here too.
INBOUND TIMES
The only way of getting to Nottingham to get the 1845 train is to get a taxi to Rugeley Trent Valley by 1705, Lichfield Trent Valley by 1713 or Tamworth by 1736 (best bet), then you get a Tamworth-Nottingham train 1736-1831, then to Boston (1845-2018)
Realistically, you will either have a fair wait at Hednesford, Birmingham or Nottingham, catching the 2051 from Nottingham to Boston (due in 2229)
Another option is to go Hednesford-Rugeley Trent Valley (1828-1842), Rugeley T.V to Tamworth (1905-1919), Tamworth to Nottm (1936-2028 and Nottm-Boston (2051-2229)
From other locations, info is that trains leave Birmingham New St at XX12 and XX42 (45 mins journey) and trains from Rugeley Trent Valley leave at XX45 and XX12 (10 mins journey)
