Guiseley v Blyth Spartans (Match Preview)

BLUE SQUARE BET NORTH

Venue: Nethermoor Park, Guiseley (LS20 8BT)
Date: Tuesday August 23, 2011
Kick Off: 7:45pm
Score Updates:

Official Blyth Spartans Twitter feed

Admission Details:

Adults - £10
Concessions - £6

Programme - £2

GROUND DIRECTIONS

Exit A1 at J47 and take the A59 towards Harrogate, which eventually becomes the A658. At the roundabout, take the third exit onto York Rd/A59 heading to Knaresborough/Harrogate/A661/Bradford/A658. At the next roundabout, take the second exit onto A658, then go through three roundabouts.

After 11.5 miles, turn right onto Pool Rd/A659 and continue to follow A659. Continue for 2.8 miles, before turning right onto Kirkgate/A659. Take the first left onto Beech Hill/A659 and continue to follow A659

At the roundabout, take the second exit (Bradford Rd.) Continue to follow A6038 and, at the roundabout, take the first exit onto Bradford Rd/A65. Continue to follow A65, go through one roundabout and the ground will be on the left.

Sat-Navs: The postcode for the stadium is LS20 8BT.

TEAM NEWS

Shaun Vipond will again miss out with suspected shin splints, as will Carl Jones, who is yet to make his competitive debut for the club.

Matt Hunter - also yet to appear for Blyth - could be in contention after twice being an unused substitute. However, he may yet have to settle a space on the bench, after Matt Crook impressed during his debut on Saturday. Wayne Phillips will also look to force his way back into Blyth's starting 11.

Guiseley's Joe O'Neill went off 38 minutes into their game against Solihull, with a punctured foot. He was taken to hospital and it is unclear when he is set to return to the squad. Tuesday's game comes just too soon for Guiseley forward Alex Davidson, who should be fit in time for their game against Colwyn Bay on Saturday.

Latest starting line-ups:

Blyth Spartans (3-1 v Bishop's Stortford, August 20): Crook, Groves, Cave, Atkin (Mason), Coulson, Buchanan, Purvis, Hooks, Armstrong, Emms (Pearson), Taylor (Slaughter).

Subs not used: Hunter, Phillips.

Guiseley (1-0 v Solihull Moors, August 20) Drench, Clarke, Merris, Toner, Ellis, Ainge, O'Neill (Allott 38), Boshell, Ellington (Burns 46), Forrest, Rothery.
Subs not used: Bower, Davidson, Giles.

MATCH PREVIEW

Blyth come up against familiar opposition for the first time this season, when they travel to Guiseley on Tuesday evening.

Spartans - who opened the new sides Histon, FC Halifax Town and Bishop's Stortford - have four points from their first three games, and Guiseley have recorded two wins - over Hickley and Solihull - and a defeat, against Droylsden.

This will be the first game that manager Steve Cuggy has faced one of the established Conference North sides and he is confident that his side's first three points on Saturday can inspire more of the same against last-season's Play-off finalists.

Cuggy said: "Winning's a habit and not getting beat is a habit. We'll go down there; we'll be positive and we'll be trying our best to win the game."

IN THE OPPOSING DUGOUT

Steve Kittrick

Appointed manager in December 2007, Kittrick oversaw last season's promotion from the Northern Premier as Champions.

Guiseley had the chance to complete a second successive promotion, after reaching last season's Blue Square North Play-off final. Despite taking the lead twice, they succumbed to Phil Trainer's injury-time winner. As a result, AFC Telford won promotion with a 3-2 victory.

DANGER MAN

Lee Ellington

Ellington is a new signing at Nethermoor Park, joining from Harrogate Town during the summer.

The 31-year-old made nine appearances for Harrogate at the end of last season, scoring four goals. Guiseley will be hoping that the former Hull City, Exeter City, Gainsborough Trinity and Stalybridge Celtic forward can recreate this form, to make up for last season' top scorer Jamie Walshaw's departure.

MATCH FACTS

- Both fixtures between the two teams last season failed to produce any goals, ending in 0-0 stalemates.

- Both sides have had to look for other goal scoring options, after losing their top scorers over the summer. Blyth's Paul Brayson joined Harrogate Town, while Guiseley's James Walshaw opted to go full-time with Darlington.

Guiseley:

- Won their only other game at home this season, with a 3-0 opening day victory against Hinckley United.

- Unbeaten in six games, since a 2-1 defeat to the hands of eventual champions Alfreton Town on March 22.

- Have not lost to Spartans since 2005/2006, when Blyth did the double over them.

Blyth Spartans:

- If selected, defender Phil Cave will make his 50

th

appearance for Blyth, since joining the club last summer.

- Blyth will look to record successive league victories for the first time since March, when they beat Nuneaton 1-0 and followed it up with 2-1 and 6-2 wins against Workington and Vauxhall Motors respectively.

- Spartans have had seven different scorers in their opening three fixtures (Coulson, Armstrong, Groves, Taylor, Emms, Hooks and Atkin.) This is just five lower than the total number of different scorers for all of last season.

LAST TIME WE MET

Blyth Spartans 0-0 Guiseley

Blue Square North.

Attendance: 459

Previous Clashes

2010/2011 - Conference North - Blyth Spartans 0-0 Guiseley

2010/2011 - Conference North - Guiseley 0-0 Blyth Spartans

2009/2010 - FA Trophy Second Round - Blyth Spartans 1-2 Guiseley (Own Goal)

2005/06 - Northern Premier League - Blyth Spartans 3-1 Guiseley (Bell 2, Dale)

2005/06 - Northern Premier League - Guiseley 0-2 Blyth Spartans (Fenton, Bell)

2004/05 - Northern Premier League - Blyth Spartans 2-2 Guiseley (McCabe, Bell)

2004/05 - Northern Premier League - Guiseley 2-1 Blyth Spartans (Appleby)

1999/00 - Northern Premier League - Blyth Spartans 1-2 Guiseley (Hutchinson)

1999/00 - Northern Premier League - Guiseley 2-1 Blyth Spartans (Edgecumbe)

1999/00 - Northern Premier League Challenge Cup - Guiseley 2-0 Blyth Spartans

1998/99 - Northern Premier League - Blyth Spartans 4-1 Guiseley (Farrey, Murr, Lumsden, Peverell)

1998/99 - Northern Premier League Cup Semi-Final - Blyth Spartans 0-2 Guiseley

1998/99 - Northern Premier League - Guiseley 1-2 Blyth Spartans (Farrey, Hutchinson)

1997/98 - Northern Premier League - Guiseley 1-3 Blyth Spartans (Fletcher, Atkinson, Hislop)

1997/98 - Northern Premier League - Blyth Spartans 1-1 Guiseley (Tinkler)

1996/97 - Northern Premier League - Guiseley 2-1 Blyth Spartans (Page)

1996/97 - Northern Premier League - Blyth Spartans 1-1 Guiseley (Pyle)

1995/96 - Northern Premier League - Guiseley 1-1 Blyth Spartans (S.Young)

1995/96 - Northern Premier League Chairman's Cup First Round - Guiseley 4-0 Blyth Spartans

1995/96 - Northern Premier League Cup Second Round - Guiseley 1-0 Blyth Spartans

1995/96 - FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round - Blyth Spartans 2-0 Guiseley (Ditchburn, Pyle)

1995/96 - Northern Premier League - Blyth Spartans 3-3 Guiseley (Bond 2, Harkus)

1986/87 - FA Cup Second Qualifying Round - Guiseley 0-2 Blyth Spartans (Baxter, Own goal)

MUTUAL FRIENDS

Aron Wilford (Blyth Spartans 2006-2007) (Guiseley 2007-2008)

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee:

M Ackerman

Assistants:

M Rawcliffe & S Mycock

BLUE SQUARE BET MATCH ODDS

Guiseley win: 8/11
Draw: 5/2
Blyth Spartans win: 3/1