Meridian return from the international break a point off the top and with the division’s best defensive record: three clean sheets in five, and only four goals conceded. Ashford City arrive third, unbeaten away, and with a striker in Danny Cole who has scored in each of his last four.
Rafael Duarte has named an unchanged squad. Felix Dorn is back on the bench after a hamstring injury, and Sekou Ndiaye is fit despite the knock he took at Stanground. The only doubt is Aaron Rowntree, who trained apart from the group on Thursday.
How they line up
- Ashford have kept the same back four in every league game this season.
- Cole has six goals; the rest of the side has five between them.
- They have not lost a match in which they scored first since March.
The last meeting at Kingsway Park finished 1–1 in March, with Marchetti scoring from the spot and Cole levelling ten minutes from time. Ashford won the reverse fixture 2–0 in November.
“They are organised and they are patient. If we lose the ball cheaply in our own half we will be punished, so the first twenty minutes are about being calm.”
Rafael Duarte, head coach
Matchday information
Kick-off is 15:00, with turnstiles open from 13:30. The North Stand’s rail seating is in use for the first time. Depot Road closes to traffic at 13:30 and the park-and-ride from Fairlow runs every ten minutes.
