STOCKTON TOWN VS MORPETH TOWN PREVIEW
COMPETITION: Pitching In Northern Premier League Premier Division – Matchday 40
DATE: Saturday 19 April, 2025
KICK-OFF: 15:00
ENTRY: £11 Adult, £9 Concessions, £5 11-18 year-olds, £3 U11
TICKETS: https://stocktontownfc.ktckts.com/event/morpeth2425/morpeth-town
GROUND: Stockton Town FC, Map Group UK Stadium, Bishopton Road West, Stockton-on-Tees, TS19 0QD
LIVE UPDATES: @stockton_townfc – Twitter/X
LIVE COMMENTARY: https://anchors-radio.mixlr.
CLUBHOUSE: Open from 8:30am, serving breakfast until 12pm
This is it, just three games remain in Stockton Town’s debut season in step three, and a point is all that is required to secure a position in the playoffs.
Michael Dunwell’s side come into the game in 3rd place after an incredible run of form, winning five in a row without conceding a goal in that time.
The Anchors picked up a huge result last weekend, ending Prescot Cables’ impressive run of form, with a 1-0 win in Merseyside.
Adam Nicholson scored the lone goal of the game just after the half-time break, securing a mega three points.
Kev Hayes will return to action this weekend after finishing his suspension.
The Anchors are also quickly in action again on Monday, with a short trip to Hebburn Town at 3pm, and supporters can book their place on the supporters coach for that game at https://www.mdtravelcoachhire.co.uk/store/Hebburn-Town-Bank-Hol-Monday-21st-April-25-p272546151
THE OPPOSITION
Morpeth Town have enjoyed a similar rise to that of the Anchors over the past decade, winning the Northern League Division One title during Stockton’s first season in Division One, and then followed that by winning the NPL East Division at the first time of asking, and have been solid in step three ever since.
Although the Highwaymen can no longer mathematically finish in a playoff position, they will be looking to continue their fine run of form to close the 2024/25 season. Manager Craig Lynch is a popular name in the well-known podcast, NPL Chat’s Manager of the Season voting, and could still secure his highest ever points tally with the club this season, with four more required to accomplish that.
The 2016 FA Vase winners are led by a number of talents, with youngster Nic Bollado sharing the team’s top scorer status with the long-term attacker Jack Foalle. They also have former Anchors loanee Sam Hodgson up front, as well as recently bringing back a midfielder, also named Sam Hogdson, after he had plenty of success with Morpeth in the past.
With a strong, experienced backline, captained by long-term veteran Jeff Henderson, and all six-feet-seven inches of Dan Langley in goal, they are defensively solid and make games difficult for every team.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The two sides have plenty of history, however, the Anchors have only tasted victory once over the Highwaymen, in a Brooks Mileson Cup Quarter Final all the way back in 2018. Here are the results from the teams’ five most recent encounters:
15 Aug 2020 – Stockton Town 0-2 Morpeth Town – Pre-Season Friendly
21 Jul 2021 – Stockton Town 1-3 Morpeth Town – Pre-Season Friendly
30 Jul 2022 – Morpeth Town 2-0 Stockton Town – Pre-Season Friendly
25 Jul 2023 – Morpeth Town 4-3 Stockton Town – Pre-Season Friendly
20 Aug 2024 – Morpeth Town 2-1 Stockton Town – Northern Premier League Premier Division
FORM GUIDE
Stockton Town: W W W W W
Last Game: Prescot Cables 0-1 Stockton Town
Worksop Town: L D D W D
Last Game: Morpeth Town 2-2 Basford United
PRE-MATCH QUOTES
Stockton Town Assistant Manager JD Briggs looked ahead to the final three games of the season following victory at Prescot Cables last weekend by saying:
“We’ve managed to get into these positions in the table through being solid, now we find ourselves only three points away from second place. There is no pressure on us at all and we’re just enjoying the ride, trying to win each game if we can, and momentum is just carrying us up the table.
“It’s reminiscent of last season, the fourth season in a row of getting into the playoffs and the fans are huge for it, we benefit from our fanbase massively and if we could finish third, and get a home tie in the playoffs that would be perfect, and on that Tuesday night it would give us a huge advantage. There are teams in this league with 3 or 4x the budget and expectations we have, and you never know, we could do something really special here.”
Words by Jordan Clarke
