Preview | Farsley Celtic (h) | National League North | 22/23

Blyth Spartans play their first of two successive home matches as Farsley Celtic make the trip to Croft Park.

Graham Fenton’s side had slipped to a second successive defeat as they were defeated 4-0 away to newly promoted Peterborough Sports last weekend.

TEAM NEWS

Corey McKeown is being assessed following a thigh strain, with Toby Lees expected to be out until mid-October due to a fractured cheekbone picked up in the home win against Gloucester City.

MILESTONE

New signings Cedric Main and Jack Bodenham are in line for their Spartans debuts.

OPPOSITION

The Celts have had a disappointing start to the season and currently find themselves in the relegation zone in 22nd place. However, Farsley’s solitary win this season was an impressive one; a 3-0 win away to last seasons’ runners up, Brackley Town.

Last time out Russ Wilcox’s side lost 4-2 at home to Scarborough Athletic, with Andy Butler and Adam Clayton on the scoresheet for the hosts.

WHAT WE’RE SAYING

After the defeat away at Peterborough, Graham Fenton said: “It’s massively disappointing, its summed up in terms of they exposed our weaknesses and we didn’t expose theirs enough.

So we’ve got a lot of work to do as we’re two and a half weeks into this and we try to give messages across the group and some are picking it up quicker than others and some aren’t just getting it yet.”

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

The best team won today, we weren’t good enough. We deserved nothing on the day as Scarborough were better than us. We didn’t play to our strengths, they did to  us what we want to try to do to other teams.

We’ve got to make sure we don’t get carried and rip everything up. That wasn’t good enough, but last weekend was, so we just need to get back to the basics.

LAST TIME WE MET

It was a dramatic last meeting between the sides back in April at Croft Park as JJ O’Donnell’s last minute winner secured Blyth a vital three points in their battle against relegation.

That 2-1 win was preceded by a 1-1 draw at the Citadel earlier in the season.

MEDIA COVERAGE

Join Mark Carruthers and Jordan Cronin on Blyth Live from 7:30pm.

Alternatively you can follow the match via our social media channels.

Posted by BSAFC Media Team