EASINGTON COLLIERY VS STOCKTON TOWN PREVIEW
COMPETITION: ‘Frank Pattison’ Durham Challenge Cup- Second Round
DATE: Tuesday 3rd November, 2026
KICK-OFF: 19:30
ENTRY: £7 Adult, £4 Conc.
GROUND: Memorial Avenue, Easington Colliery, County Durham, SR8 3PL
LIVE UPDATES: @stockton_townfc – Twitter/X
LIVE COMMENTARY: Click here to listen on Anchors TV
Stockton Town resume their Durham Challenge Cup campaign with a Second Round tie at Easington Colliery on Tuesday night.
The Anchors overcame a fringe Gateshead side as they ran out 3-1 winners at the MAP Group UK Stadium. Stephen Thompson fired them in front before Sam Payne levelled for the Heed.
In the second half, goals from Jacob Watson and Jake Petitjean were enough to book a place in the Second Round and a trip to Welfare Park.
Easington are currently in their third season at Step 5 and have enjoyed an excellent start to the season under manager Ollie Hotchkiss, sitting 2nd in the Northern League Division One table, although they have recently suffered back-to-back defeats at Birtley Town and then at home to Marske United.
In the Durham Challenge Cup, they gained a little revenge with a 1-0 win over Jarrow in the First Round — the side which knocked them out of the competition at the same stage last season.
Liam Adamson is one to watch for the Green Army. He returned to the club last season following a successful stint at Newton Aycliffe, where he contributed to a Northern League title win. This season he is flying and has 22 goals on the season already.
Former Anchor Liam Cooke has been on their books this season; however, he has not featured since the end of September.
This will be the first meeting between the clubs in just over four years. The pair met in the First Round of this competition back in 2022 at the MAP Group UK Stadium, where Stockton ran out 4-0 winners.
It will be their first meeting back at Welfare Park since Boxing Day 2016, when Stockton ran out 5-1 winners.
Welfare Park was the site of one of Stockton Town’s great cup victories in the Wearside League. Following a 1-1 draw, the Anchors overcame Easington on penalties to claim the 2015 Wearside League Cup.
Michael Dunwell hinted in his post-match interview following the Whitby Town win that changes are likely to be made. Josh Scott, Jake Petitjean, and Stephen Thompson will all be available for the game. There could also be starts for Jaedon Faulkner, who returned to action on Saturday, and Callum Young, who started in the previous round.
Should Scott and Cam Painter feature, they will mark their 100th and 200th appearances for the club, respectively.
Commenting on the game ahead, Dunwell said: “We’ve got a big game. We like the Durham Cup and we want to get to the final again.”
