It’s FA Cup time again at Croft Park tomorrow as Blue Square North side Workington are the visitors for a Second Qualifying Round tie. It will be friends reunited as management duo Tommy Cassidy and Paddy Atkinson both had spells with the Borough Park club whilst current players Joe Kendrick and Shaun Vipond(pictured) also spent time with the Reds.
Cassidy will hope to have defender Carl Jones back in contention after the former Gateshead man suffered an ankle injury that has seen him ruled out of the last two league fixtures. Hoping to make their debuts for Spartans will be former Workington striker Callum Hasson and former Newcastle United winger Martin Brittain, who joined the club on Thursday night. The signing of Brittain means that the ex Magpies contingent at Croft Park is swelled to four as he joins Joe Kendrick and Phil Airey, as well as manager Cassidy who have worn the black and white of Newcastle. Airey scored the winner in the previous round against Garforth Town and notched his fourth goal in Spartans colours in the home defeat to Chorley on Tuesday.
Workington travel to Croft Park on the back of a 1-3 league defeat at the hands of Blue Square North leaders Brackley Town. Jonny Wright scored their goal on a night where they matched the league leaders for most of the game. Gareth Arnison is their top scorer with six goals in eight games this season. They have Tranmere Rovers midfielder Will Vaulks on loan and he has been given permission to play in the FA Cup by his parent club. Manager Darren Edmondson will be without defenders Lee Andrews(hernia) and Dan Wordsworth(ankle) whilst a loan move for Hartlepool United defender Paul Johnson has fallen through after the youngster suffered ankle ligament damage just before he was due to sign for the Reds.
Spartans in quotes
Shaun Vipond- “It’s a massive game and yes it’s my old club but it’s not about that. Everyone at this club wants to do well in the FA Cup, it’s a chance to go far and play at some big grounds. That’s what every footballer dreams of as a little kid and yes it’s a little bit special for me being my former club but it’s about getting this club into the next round”
Conor Grant- “We need to pick ourselves back up and get ready for a massive game on Saturday. It’s probably the best thing for us to not have to wait another week for a game and we can get right back into it for what is a big game for this club and everyone connected to it”
Tommy Cassidy- “I had six great years there and it’s a club I have a lot of affection and time for. Hopefully we can get a good crowd and match them, get behind the team and give them a good game. It’s a hard game for us but a special occasions against one of my old clubs in the FA Cup”
Weather Info:
Sunny, dry but chilly
Match info
Last time out:
Tuesday 18th September ENPL: Blyth Spartans(Airey) 1-3 Chorley
Saturday 15th September BSN: Brackley Town 3-1 Workington(Wright)
Previous Meeting:
2 January 2011 BSN: Blyth Spartans 0-3 Workington (McLuckie, McNiven 2)
Odds Checker
Match Odds:
Blyth Spartans 13/8, Draw 5/2, Workington 6/5 (William Hill)
Match Day: Spartans on this day
22 September 1906 East Northumberland League Amble H 3-1 Spence, Thompson N, Harrison
22 September 1923 North Eastern League Carlisle United A 0-2
22 September 1928 North Eastern League Annfield Plain A 0-3
22 September 1934 North Eastern League Middlesbrough Reserves A 1-1 Dunmore
22 September 1937 Aged Miners Homes Cup Final Ashington A 3-1 Moses, Readman, Morton
22 September 1945 Northern Combination South Shields Reserves A 8-2 n/k
22 September 1951 North Eastern League South Shields H 3-1 Clough, J Turney, Fenwick
22 September 1962 NELCC Darlington Reserves H 0-1
22 September 1970 Northern League Ferryhill Athletic A 2-2 Robson, Slane
22 September 1973 Northern League Spennymoor United H 2-1 Smith, Joyce (og)
22 September 1979 Northern League Penrith A 1-1 Trotter
22 September 1984 Northern League Division 1 Whitby H 5-4 Baxter, Hart 2, Grigg, McFadden
22 September 1990 Northern League Division 1 Seaham Red Star H 3-0 Mills, Cuggy 2
22 September 1998 NPL Premier Division Frickley Athletic A 0-2
22 September 2001 NPL Premier Division Droylsden A 0-0
22 September 2004 NPL Premier Division Whitby Town A 2-4 Thompson, Armstrong
22 September 2007 Conference North Solihull Moors A 1-0 McCabe