Gainsborough Trinity v Blyth Spartans (Match Preview)

BLUE SQUARE BET NORTH

Venue: The Northolme, Gainsborough (DN21 2QW)
Date: Saturday August 27, 2011
Kick Off: 3pm
Score Updates:

Official Blyth Spartans Twitter feed

Admission Details:

Adults - £8
Concessions - £6

Programme - £1.50

GROUND DIRECTIONS

On the A1, exit at junction 37. Take the first exit at the roundabout and follow the A614 for 2.8 miles. Turn right onto Gainsborough Rd/A631.

Continue on for eight miles then take the third exit at the roundabout and stay on the A631. Go straight on through another roundabout and, at the next roundabout, take the first exit onto Trinity St/A159.

After nearly one mile, turn right onto Carlisle St and the ground should be on the left.
Sat-Navs: The postcode for the stadium is DN21 2QW.

TEAM NEWS

Spartans are set to welcome back a number of players this weekend. Dylan Purvis and Adam Forster return, after missing the Guiseley game in mid-week.

Tuesday's game came too soon for Carl Jones, who - despite being involved in the warm-up - remained on the bench. Matt Hunter also look set to be involved, after he was also an unused substitute in Yorkshire.

Shaun Vipond is now the only injured absentee in Blyth Spartans' squad and is still a couple of weeks away from recovery.

Phil Bannister's wait for International Clearance is now over and he will be desperate to get out on the pitch at Gainsborough.

Trinity also have a player returning, as Leon Mettam is said to be match-fit for Saturday, following the Gainsborough forward's recent injury.

Latest starting line-ups:

Gainsborough Trinity (1-0 v Corby Town, August 23): Barnes, Roma, Sandwith, Cowan, Boyce, Leary, D'Laryea, Williams, Kendall (McMahon 85), Paczkowski (Clare 71), Yates (Nelthorpe 75). Subs not used: Gray, Coleman.

Blyth Spartans (0-5 v Guiseley, August 23): Crook, Groves, Cave, Atkin (Taylor 46), Coulson, Buchanan, Slaughter, Hooks, Armstrong, Emms (Mason 73), Phillips (Pearson 82). Subs not used: Jones, Hunter.

MATCH PREVIEW

Steve Cuggy has described Saturday's clash with Gainsborough Trinity as a "Good chance to bounce back from the result at Guiseley."

The Blyth manager hopes that, by having a game just four days after their 5-0 drubbing by the Yorkshire side, it will provide the perfect opportunity to put that result behind them.

Cuggy said: "I was massively disappointed with Tuesday's result. It was a bit a bit of a lesson for us, but, hopefully, we'll learn from it.

He will also be buoyed by the return of some key personnel in the team, with a number of players set to be available for Saturday.

Cuggy said: "Dylan Purvis, Adam Forster, Carl Jones and Matt Hunter will all be available for Saturday. There's also Phil Bannister now as well, after his clearance has come through.

That will act as a huge boost for the team, as it will give me more options and will create a lot more competition for places."

Spartans will hope they can end Gainsborough's 100% home record on Saturday and that they take a positive result into Bank Holiday Monday's game, against Harrogate Town.

IN THE OPPOSING DUGOUT

Steve Housham

Gainsborough's director of football development has taken temporary charge of the club - after Trinity sacked Brian Little earlier this week, following two heavy losses at the hands of Hinckley United and Stalybridge Celtic.

DANGER MAN

Ryan Kendall

Kendall ran the show during last season's clash between the two sides at Croft Park last season, scoring two and getting the assist in the other, in his side's 3-1 victory.

While he was unable to repeat his heroics in the reverse fixture, the fact he scored 15 goals in his 32 appearances last season means that the Blyth defence will, once again, have to be wary of his attacking threat.

MATCH FACTS

Gainsborough Trinity:

- Have taken maximum points at home so far, seeing off Solihull Moors and Corby Town 3-1 and 1-0 respectively.
- Trinity don't seem to be enjoying the first half of their games. So far, they have only managed a solitary goal and have conceded four before the break.
- All of their points have come on home soil, as they have succumbed to heavy away defeats. A 3-0 defeat at Hinckley was followed by Stalybridge put four past them without reply.

Blyth Spartans:

- In total, Blyth have only held a lead for just over 45 minutes in their four games so far - after Neal Hooks scored in first half added time against Bishop's Stortford (Spartans went on to win 3-1.)
- Have conceded first in each of their games so far.
- Spartans have not gained three points away from home since their empathic 6-2 victory at Vauxhall Motors on March 26 of this year - drawing two and losing four since then.
- If involved, Matt Hunter, Carl Jones and Adam Forster will make their debuts for the club.

LAST TIME WE MET

Gainsborough Trinity 0-2 Blyth Spartans (Tuesday January 25, 2011)
Blue Square North.
Attendance: 264

Previous Clashes

2010/2011 - Conference North - Gainsborough Trinity 0-2 Blyth Spartans (Brayson, Hooks)

2010/2011 - Conference North - Blyth Spartans 1-3 Gainsborough Trinity (Brayson)

2009/2010 - Conference North - Gainsborough Trinity 2-0 Blyth Spartans

2009/2010 - Conference North - Blyth Spartans 2-1 Gainsborough Trinity (Tait, Brayson)

2008/2009 - Conference North - Blyth Spartans 1-1 Gainsborough Trinity (Reay)

2008/2009 - Conference North - Gainsborough Trinity 0-0 Blyth Spartans

2007/2008 - Conference North - Blyth Spartans 1-1 Gainsborough Trinity (Dale)

2007/2008 - FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round Replay - Gainsborough Trinity 1-1 (4-3 pens) Blyth Spartans (A. Gildea)

2007/2008 - FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round - Blyth Spartans 2-2 Gainsborough Trinity (Houlahan, Forster)

2007/2008 - FA Cup Third Qualifying Round - Gainsborough Trinity 1-0 Blyth Spartans

MUTUAL FRIENDS

Richard Pell (Blyth Spartans 2008-2010)
Dave Clarke - (Blyth Spartans 1977-1987) - Blyth Spartans Hall of Famer

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: C Kavanagh
Assistants: A Cawtherley & J Hayes

BLUE SQUARE BET MATCH ODDS

Gainsborough Trinity win: 4/5
Draw: 5/2
Blyth Spartans win: 11/4