STOCKTON TOWN VS MARINE AFC PREVIEW
COMPETITION: FA Cup Second Qualifying Round
DATE: Saturday 14th September, 2024
KICK-OFF: 3:00pm
ENTRY: £11 Adult, £9 Concessions, £5 11-18 year olds, £3 under-11’s
Tickets available via this link –https://stocktontownfc.ktckts.com/event/stfcmarinefacup/v-marine-fa-cup
GROUND: MAP Group UK Stadium, Bishopton Road West, Stockton-on-Tees, TS19 0QD
LIVE UPDATES: @stockton_townfc Twitter/X
Stockton Town are back in FA Cup action when they host Marine in the Second Qualifying Round.
The Anchors progressed with victory over Widnes in the First Qualifying Round thanks to Mikey Roberts’ second half goal.
Since that win, Stockton have slipped to back-to-back defeats in the league to Macclesfield and Lancaster. The first was a spirited display against the prospective league champions, while defeat at Lancaster was bitterly disappointing.
Assistant Manager JD Briggs was left ‘feeling flat’ and bemoaned the lack of cutting edge the Anchors showed in the final third in the game.
Adam Nicholson will be missing from the Marine game due to suspension, Lewis King is away and Stephen Thompson is also absent.
That will see a few of the U18 team appear in the squad.
THE OPPOSITION
Marine currently compete in the National League North after gaining promotion from the Northern Premier League Premier Division via the Play-Offs last season. It was an unlikely triumph as they overcame the odds to beat Macclesfield at the Moss Rose.
The Mariners have had a difficult start to life in the National League North and sit 22nd with six points from their opening eight games. They have picked up a solitary victory against Buxton, and in their most recent fixture they drew 0-0 with Darlington.
They did lose one of their main sources of goals with Sol Solomon departing for League Two side Tranmere Rovers. The forward hit 24 goals last season just two behind Fin Sinclair-Smith who has yet to get off the mark for this season.
Marine are of course well known for their FA Cup exploits. They made the Third Round in 2021 when they lost 5-0 at home to Tottenham Hostpur in front of the BBC TV Cameras.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
This is the first-ever meeting between Stockton Town and Marine.
FORM GUIDE
Stockton Town: L L W W L
Last Game: Lancaster City 2-1 Stockton Town
Marine: D L D W L
Last Game: Marine 0-0 Darlington
PRE-MATCH QUOTES
Focusing on the task in hand, Assistant Manager JD Briggs said:
“We need to dust ourselves down and try a bit harder. I know that might sound a bit basic but it’s not a case of ‘it doesn’t matter we did well in the first half’ we want to go out and win.
“That needs to change quickly and it can start on Saturday.”
Briggs continued: “Marine will come in and expect to go through to the next round. The fans have been brilliant this season and the last thing we want to do is turn in a lacklustre performance.”
