Blyth Spartans
Deverdics (23' Pen)
1
Ilkeston Town
Wafula (56'
1
Saturday 22 February 2025 3PM
League
Attendance: 569
Blyth Spartans v Ilkeston Town | Saturday, 22 February 2025 - 15:00 | League
Blyth Spartans welcome Ilkeston Town to Croft Park as they look to bounce back from a heavy defeat last weekend.
Last time out Spartans fell to a 5-1 defeat away to Gainsborough Trinity, after going into half-time 4-0 down. JJ Hooper scored a late consolation for Spartans.
Matchday Information
You can buy tickets with cash or card at the gate on the day or online here. All ticket information is as follows:
- Adults - £15
- Concessions (over 65) - £9
- 11-16 Years & Students - £6
- Under-10s are admitted for free when accompanied by a paying adult.
To be seated in the Port of Blyth main stand, an extra £2 cost will be incurred for each category.
Buy TicketsTeam News
Spartans will continue to be without Billy Gordon and Zach Simpson. A decision will be made in the morning on who will start in goal.
What We're Saying
Speaking after the heavy defeat against Gainsborough, First-Team Manager Michael Connor said, “It was unacceptable. The game was over in 13 minutes. We were short on numbers, but the first half, the lack of running and lack of willingness - the fans have expressed how they feel at the end of the game, and rightly so as they spend their money. That's why we made three substitutions at half time.”
“There's no excuses. Regardless of what's going on off the pitch. We haven't changed the team, it's the same team that played Leek, so why have we turned up and play how we have in the first half? It's just unacceptable.”
Opposition
Ilkeston go into the game in sixth place in the Northern Premier League, just three points outside the play-offs.
Last time out they lost 2-1 at home to play-off rivals Stockton Town - which saw them rise to fifth. Two first half goals from Stockton saw them go into the break ahead, but Ilkeston pulled a goal back through Sam Parker just after the hour mark, but it proved to be too little too late for the home side.
What They're Saying
Speaking after his side's loss against Stockton, Ilkeston manager Ian Dearkin, said, "It was frustrating, especially first half. We just want at the races first half. It was really frustrating because second half we came out and had a go.
"I want to see a big reaction, they are fighting for their lives, they're not going to be giving in. There's no easy games in this league. It's a tough league with some really good teams up and down the league.
Last Time We Met
The teams last met on 2nd November, in what was Spartans first game since the takeover by the CIC. Blyth fell to a 3-0 defeat, with keeper Michael Hogan receiving a red card and skipper Nicky Deverdics having to finish the game in goal.
Media Coverage
You can follow all of the action on Saturday afternoon via our social media platforms and BlythLive on Mixlr from 2:45 pm.