EVO-STIK PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Croft Park, Blyth (NE24 3JE)
Date: Saturday December 3
Kick Off: 3pm
SCORE UPDATES / MATCH COMMENTARY
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Blyth Live
ADMISSION
£10 – Adults (+1 under 10 free with every paying adult)
£5 – Concessions
£1 Extra – Entry to Port of Blyth Stand
TEAM NEWS
Blyth make a welcome return to football, having not played since their resounding 11-1 win over Bedlington Terriers in the Techflow Group Northumberland Senior Cup. Since then, Spartans have twice been thwarted in their efforts to play Altrincham in the Buildbase FA Trophy.
Spartans’ last league game was the disappointing 2-2 draw against Stafford Rangers. After Luke Armstrong had put Blyth into a two-goal lead, it was surrendered and the game finished in a draw. Meanwhile, Buxton were in action last Saturday – as they defeated promotion rivals Rushall Olympic 3-0, with a brace from Bradley Grayson and one from Nicholas Walker.
Seven league games without defeat leave Blyth in the playoff places and four points off the top of the table, but Alun Armstrong’s men have two games in hand on all of their rivals. Second-placed Buxton are three points ahead of Spartans, but are only one point behind leaders Whitby Town.
Buxton’s form has dipped slightly as they enter December, with two defeats in their last five league games against Stourbridge and Nantwich Town.
RECENT FORM
Blyth Spartans –WWLDW
Buxton – LWLWW
IN THE AWAY DUGOUT
Martin McIntosh – Plenty of playing experience, after clocking up over 500 league appearances in the English and Scottish football leagues. FHis former clubs include Hibernian, St Mirren, Rotherham and Huddersfield. McIntosh has been in charge of Buxton since 2012.
DANGER MAN
Bradley Grayson – The experienced striker came through the youth system at Doncaster, before spells with Frickley, Matlock, Ånge IF in Sweden, Stocksbridge and Loyola Meralco Sparks in the Philippines. After joining Buxton this summer, he is already their top goal scorer with 10 league goals this season.
LAST TIME WE MET
Buxton 0-4 Blyth Spartans – Evo-Stik Premier League – Saturday October 24 2015.
RECORD AGAINST OPPOSITION
Played – 15
Won – 6
Lost – 6
Drew – 3
Scored – 23
Conceded – 14
MUTUAL FRIENDS
Jason Bradley