STOCKTON TOWN VS HORDEN CW PREVIEW
COMPETITION: Frank Pattison Durham Challenge Cup – Semi-Final
DATE: Tuesday 17th February, 2026
KICK-OFF: 7:30pm
ENTRY: £10 Adults, £5 concessions, £2 U11’s (season tickets NOT valid)
GROUND: MAP Group UK Stadium, Bishopton Road West, Stockton-On-Tees, TS19 0QD
UPDATES: @stockton_townfc Twitter/X
LIVE COMMENTARY: Anchors Radio (mixlr.com)
Stockton Town look to book their trip to the Stadium of Light with a home semi-final tie against Northern League Horden.
The Anchors come into the game off the back of a great win against Prescot Cables, which has put the side just seven points off the top spot in the NPL with a game in hand.
Josh Scott, Kevin Hayes and Stephen Thompson all found the target in the second-half to complete a turnaround and pick up all three points.
Michael Dunwell’s side have gotten the better of Farringdon Detached, Hebburn Town and Dunston en-route to the semi-finals of the competition.
Shildon already wait the victor in the final, after their demolition of Seaham Red Star last week.
THE OPPOSITION
Horden are currently in the midst of the playoff push in their first season back in Northern League Division One following their title win last season.
Jonny Payne’s team have defeated Sunderland West End, Crook Town and Spennymoor Town on the way to the semi-final’s.
The Wearside-based side haven’t played a game in over two weeks, when they were defeated 3-1 at home to title-challenging Whitley Bay.
Forward Philip Angus leads the club in goals so far this campaign, with 10 to his name in the league, whilst former Billingham Synthonia talisman Ash Lavan leads the line for Horden.
In recent weeks, veteran defender Dan Flounders recently surpassed the 100 appearance mark for the Marras.
Horden also have Northern League legend Robert Dean in-between the sticks after joining from Guisborough Town in summer.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The two sides met at least five times, over a whole decade ago, when the teams were both in the Wearside League, with Stockton taking some big victories whilst the sides were in a title challenge against each other. Stockton also knocked the Marras out of the Wearside League Cup back in 2014.
FORM GUIDE
Stockton Town: L D W D W
Last match: Stockton Town 3-1 Prescot Cables
Horden CW: W W W L L
Last match: Horden CW 1-3 Whitley Bay
PRE-MATCH QUOTES
Following last week’s victory against Prescot Cables, Assistant Manager JD Briggs spoke ahead of the tie by saying:
“The game is huge for us, and we’re going to go into that and give it everything we’ve got to try and push ourselves into the final for the first time.”
