Match Preview | Blyth Spartans v Marine
Tuesday, 13 September 2016
EVO-STIK PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Croft Park, Blyth (NE24 3JE)
Date: Tuesday September 13 2016
Kick Off: 7:45pm
SCORE UPDATES / MATCH COMMENTARY
Radio Blyth Live
ADMISSION
£10 - Adults (+u10 y/o free)
£5 - Concession
£1 Extra - Entry to Port of Blyth Stand
TEAM NEWS
Spartans take on the only side to beat them this season, when they welcome Marine to Croft Park on Tuesday night.
Blyth made the trip to Merseyside in their first away trip of this Evo-Stik Premier and had been well on top in the first half. However, in the ultimate game of two halves, Marine took control after the break and managed to score late on to see off Spartans.
Blyth have won four of their five games in all competitions since that defeat - with only a fortunate Ashton equaliser preventing them from achieving a perfect record - while the Mariners laboured to take just two points from their next three games after our meeting at the Arriva Park. An Emirates FA Cup victory over Northern League side Marske United was followed up with a 4-2 victory over Coalville Town in their last game - as the Merseyside-based side appear to have gotten their season back on track.
Gavin Caines will return to the squad to challenge Ryan Hutchinson and Richard Pell for a starting berth, having missed Saturday's 5-0 demolition of Sutton Coldfield Town to attend a wedding. Nathan Buddle also sat out at the weekend, but remains on holiday for another week.
Andrew Cartwright is expected to be in contention for selection after getting a knock on Saturday, but Daniel Maguire will not be risked if he is not 100 per cent fit - after he also hobbled off following a clash of knees in the 5-0 win.
RECENT FORM
Blyth Spartans - DWWWW
Marine - DLDWW
IN THE AWAY DUGOUT
Sean Hessey - Player/Manager - Appointed as caretaker manager on February 24 2015 - before being named as manager towards the tail-end of the season - Hessey masterminded Marine's "Great Escape" by taking 23 points from 12 games to keep them in the Evo-Stik Premier Division.
Hessey built on that result by guiding the club to a 15th-placed finish in the league last season, with a comfortable cushion of eight points from the relegation places this time around.
DANGER MAN
Daniel Mitchley - Began the season with a brace against Barwell, before sinking Blyth with a late strike in last month's reverse fixture.
Although he has failed to score since then, due to him missing Marine's 3-0 loss at Buxton, the Mariners are undefeated in every game that they have named the former Blackpool forward in their starting line-up.
LAST TIME WE MET
Marine 1-0 Blyth Spartans - August 16 2016
RECORD AGAINST OPPOSITION
Played - 37
Won - 17
Lost - 7
Drew - 13
Scored - 59
Conceded - 37
MUTUAL FRIENDS
Micky Pink
OFFICIALS
Referee: Graeme Hopper
Assistants: Stephen Birkett and Philip Guard