FECKENHAM head into Saturday’s Smedley Crooke Memorial Cup tie at Continental Star U21s buoyed by an encouraging start to the Midland League Division Two campaign.
The Millers followed Saturday’s 6-3 opening day win at Lane Head with a hard-fought goalless draw at home to last season’s champions Northfield Town on Tuesday.
Jak Albutt was a hat-trick hero for Aaron Blackwood’s side at the weekend when Danny Murphy’s superb half-volley and a Dan Sutton brace put the icing on the cake.
In midweek, Blackwood made two changes to the Millers side which started against Lane Head, with Nath Simon and Jack Cole replacing Ben Cox and Joe Nokes respectively.
Tuesday’s fixture was a world apart but Blackwood’s men were more than worthy of their point and threatened in the first half through Connor Perry-Holmes, but Town wasted a good chance of their own just before the break when their striker blazed over.
Northfield enjoyed plenty of possession in the opening stages of the second half but keeper Ryan Young, Ben Welsh and Jamie Hatfield continued to keep the visitors, out much to their frustration.
Murphy had a decent opening on the break for Feckenham but was caught in two minds and his cross-shot carried little threat, but he came much closer soon afterwards when he headed just wide from Jake Donnelly’s throw-in.
Northfield’s forward headed just over before Murphy saw another effort deflected narrowly wide as both sides ran out of ideas in front of goal.
