By Matt Lawton
November 10 2005

RMI make the short trip to Tameside on Saturday to face former manager Steve Waywell and his struggling Hyde United side at Ewen Fields. It's the first time since his departure three years ago that Waywell will be coming up against the club that he took from the depths of the first division of the Unibond League, right up to the top five of the Conference and within touching distance of the Football League, via a couple of FA Cup runs and LDV Trophy expeditions.

Both sides were supposed to be involved in Conference North encounters on Tuesday evening, but RMI's game at home to Lancaster and Hyde's game at Vauxhall Motors both fell victim to the recent heavy rain that may well also threaten Saturday's encounter.

Prior to that, RMI somehow managed to fall to a 1-0 defeat at home to Worksop to extend their run of games without a victory, though they could've won by a hatful if it wasn't for the Hilton Park woodwork or Worksop defence, and it may well have concerned Waywell, who was spotted on the terraces, that it can only be a matter of time before RMI finally get some good luck. He will be encouraged by his own side though after they won 3-0 at Gainsborough Trinity, the side responsible for ending RMI's FA Cup run earlier this season.

With the two sides close to each other in the Conference North table, it should be a cracking game with each side looking to get their season's back on track ahead of a vital part of the season.

Although it seems that there won't be a Supporters Club coach travelling to Ewen Fields, it is easy to get to the ground on public transport, with regular services running between Manchester Piccadilly and Newton-for-Hyde station.