Blyth Spartans face a 330-mile round trip as they travel to the Tarmac Silverlands Stadium to take on Buxton FC to kick off the Bank Holiday weekend doubleheader.
Blyth continued their great start to the 2023/34 Vanarama National League North season as they picked up their third win in four games in a 2-1 win against Hereford FC as Charlie Aitken and Michael Liddle both grabbed their first goals of the season.
TICKET INFORMATION
You can buy tickets with cash or card at the gate only. All ticket information is as follows:
- Adults – £15
- Concessions (65+ and Students) – £10
- Youth (12-17) –£5
- Under-11s – £2
TEAM NEWS
Jack Bodenham will be eligible to return to action after serving his suspension against Hereford having picked up a red card away to Warrington Town and Curtis Round will return to the squad having been absent last weekend.
It is expected that JJ Hooper is likely to be on the sidelines for a couple of weeks having tweaked his hamstring in the 2-1 victory against Hereford last week, while JJ O’Donnell is still counting down the days following the concussion he suffered away to Scarborough Athletic.
New signing Cedric Main will be in contention to feature against The Bucks subject to league and FA clearance having joined on loan from York City.
WHAT WE’RE SAYING
After picking up their third win in four games, Graham Fenton said: “There was lots of good stuff, mixed in with some frustrating stuff as well, so we obviously were forced into a little bit of a formation change today with Curtis [Round] not being available and JJ [O’Donnell] with his concussion.
“So I thought the lads were up for a shot at it and they picked it up pretty well, particularly in the first two thirds, but we had some good chances, good opportunities in the first half. We put two decent balls into the box from about 12/14 crosses, so the quality at the top end just has to sharpen up and be better.”
OPPOSITION
The Bucks have had a tepid start to the season so far, not winning in any of their four opening league games. Draws against Curzon Ashton and Boston United have coincided with Kings Lynn Town and Brackley Town defeats, leaving them 20th in the National League North.
Managed by Craig Elliot since December 2022, he has overseen 12 wins and eight draws, losing 10 during his time in charge in Derbyshire. He helped guide Buxton to an 11th-placed finish in the 2022/23 campaign last season following their promotion from the Northern Premier League in the 2021/22 season.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
Following a 1-1 draw with Curzon Ashton, Craig Elliot said: “I thought we were dreadful in the second half, not sure why, we died again for the second home game running.
“I couldn’t praise them enough in the first half with how we opened them up with good chances, played good football and limited them to very little and then second half it was a massive contrast.
“So yeah it’s frustrating, I need to watch it back, I need to think about things because I didn’t like that second half one bit.”
LAST TIME WE MET
The sides faced off against each other three times last season, twice in the league and once in an FA Trophy second round tie.
Most recently, The Bucks got the upper edge on The Spartans as they won 3-0 at Croft Park in January 2023, with Bradley Jackson scoring twice, who was joined alongside Sam Osbourne on the scoresheet.
In the reverse fixture at the Tarmac Silverlands Stadium, Blyth took a 2-1 win back to the North East after a heroic late double from Alex Nicholson secured the three points in Derbyshire.
Also in the FA Trophy Second Round, a spectacular display from Cedric Main saw him score all four goals in a 4-2 victory over Buxton.
MEDIA COVERAGE
You can follow all of the action on Saturday afternoon via our social media platforms.