STOCKTON TOWN VS BISHOP AUCKLAND PREVIEW
COMPETITION: Pre-Season Friendly
DATE: Friday 26th July, 2024
KICK-OFF: 7:45pm
ENTRY: £5 Adult, £3 Concessions, free for season card holders
GROUND: The MAP Group UK Stadium, Bishopton Road West, Stockton-On-Tees, TS19 0QD
LIVE UPDATES: @stockton_townfc – Twitter/X
With the 2024/25 season drawing ever closer, the preparation continues against newly promoted Step Four side, Bishop Auckland.
The Anchors remain unbeaten throughout their opening five Pre-Season encounters, after a strong 2-2 draw against National League North’s Spennymoor Town last time out.
Goals from former Moors man Owen Gallacher and Michael Fowler’s first in Pre-Season provided a result to be happy with as the clock ticks towards opening day.
Following Bishop Auckland’s visit, next weekend’s trip to Whitby Town is all that is left before the Anchors make their NPL Premier Division debut, in a trip to Leek Town.
THE OPPOSITION
Bishop Auckland are preparing for their debut NPL East season, after a remarkable title-winning campaign in the Northern League last season – losing only two games en-route to their 100-point finish.
Former Anchor Matty Tymon leads the line for the ‘Two Blues’, after he joined from Guisborough Town this summer. Tymon is partnered by the very talented Louis Johnson, who scored 21 league goals in his player of the year campaign last season.
Another ex-Anchor Liam Cooke could make an appearance for Bishop, after he was retained for another season after impressing on a dual-registration deal last season.
Bishop have made a number of new additions to their side, as they look to make a name for themselves in the Northern Premier League East division.
Defenders Alexander Walker and Oscar Eckley-Aldsworth joined from Crook Town and Newton Aycliffe respectively. Shortly followed by the before-mentioned Matty Tymon, Jordan Fielding, clinical attacker ‘Donny’ Holdsworth and vastly experienced Adam Gell.
Most recently, Chris Hardy’s side announced the signing of veteran midfielder Sam Hodgson, who will join the club as a player-coach.
Tonight’s visitors have had some tough tests so far in pre-season, losing out in games against Whitby Town, Darlington and Hebburn Town, but did emerge victorious against Blyth Town and Billingham Synthonia.
PRE-MATCH QUOTES
Anchors manager Michael Dunwell spoke ahead of the affair after Tuesday’s draw against Spennymoor Town by saying:
“It’s another good test against Bishop Auckland, they’re a good team. We’ll probably change a few players around.
“It’s our penultimate game in pre-season which has come around quick, but I think the players are looking good, they’re looking fit and they’re all hungry to impress and fight for that starting place in a couple of weeks against Leek Town.”
Words by Jordan Clarke
