BLYTH SPARTANS VS STOCKTON TOWN PREVIEW
COMPETITION: Pitching In Northern Premier League Premier Division – Matchday 29
DATE: Wednesday 4 February, 2025
KICK-OFF: 19:45
ENTRY: £15 Adult, £9 Over 65’s, £6 11-16 year-olds & students, free under-10’s
GROUND: Blyth Spartans FC, Croft Park, Plessey Road,, NE24 3JE
LIVE UPDATES: @stockton_townfc – Twitter/X
Stockton Town are looking for three wins on the bounce with a rescheduled trip to Northumberland to face Blyth Spartans.
The Anchors come into the game on fine form, after a 3-1 victory at Workington followed a dramatic 1-0 home win over Leek Town last Wednesday.
A third goal in as many games from Tom Coulthard, alongside second half strikes from Michael Sweet and Stephen Thompson overturned an early deficit in Cumbria on Saturday, eventually securing a 3-1 win.
Michael Dunwell’s side are now holding the final playoff spot in 5th place, with an incredible 46 points to their name already.
THE OPPOSITION
It’s been quite a chaotic opening to the 2024/25 season for the Spartans. After changing owners back in November, they named a new manager in Michael Connor, who had great success at Northern League’s Blyth Town, with ex-Whitby Town boss Nathan Haslam assisting him.
The pair have made a whole host of changes to the squad, with new recruits and departures seemingly take place on a weekly basis. The club most recently announced the signing of Matt Griggs, on a loan deal from Morpeth Town last week.
In fact, not a single one of Spartans’ starting 11 from Saturday’s defeat at Basford United were in the squad that beat Stockton 3-0 back in September the MAP Group UK Stadium.
The Northumberland-based side remain bottom of the table on 16 points, half of what Whitby Town currently hold in the final safety position. Spartans need wins, and they need them quick, so this fixture will absolutely be no easy-beat for the Anchors.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The sides have already met twice this season, with the Spartans tasting victory at the MAP Group UK Stadium in September, but the Anchors finding revenge in an FA Trophy matchup.
5 Oct 2024 – Blyth Spartans 0-2 Stockton Town – Northern Premier League Premier Division
18 Sep 2024 – Stockton Town 0-3 Blyth Spartans – Northern Premier League Premier Division
7 Aug 2021 – Blyth Spartans 5-1 Stockton Town – Pre-Season Friendly
FORM GUIDE
Blyth Spartans: D L L W L
Last Game: Basford United 3-1 Blyth Spartans
Stockton Town: W D L W W
Last Game: Workington 1-3 Stockton Town
PRE-MATCH QUOTES
Stockton Town assistant manager JD Briggs spoke ahead of this test following victory over Workington on Saturday by saying:
“We’ve had mixed results against them so far. It was a tough defeat to them at home, must be one of the best performances they’ve put in this season. But then we did go and beat them in the Trophy at Croft Park where we weren’t at our best.
“We know they’re going to be fighting for their lives to stay in the league, but at the same time we’re now in the playoff spots and the more points we can keep stringing together – the more chance we’ve got of staying in there so we’ve got to keep this little run going and try and stay in this top five if possible.”
Words by Jordan Clarke