Match Preview | Grantham Town v Blyth Spartans

EVO-STIK PREMIER DIVISION

Venue: The South Kesteven Sports Stadium (NG31 7XQ)

Date: Saturday August 27 2016

Kick Off: 3pm

SCORE UPDATES / MATCH COMMENTARY

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ADMISSION

£10 - Adults

£6 - Concessions

£3 - Under 16s

DIRECTIONS

- Head Southbound down the A1

- Take the A607 turn off for Grantham

- At the roundabout, take the first exit onto Swingbridge Road

- Take the first exit at the next roundabout, onto Trent Road

- At the next roundabout, take the second exit to the ground

TEAM NEWS

Blyth will look to make it back-to-back weekend wins on the road when they travel to Grantham Town on Saturday. Having dispatched Halesowen Town 5-0, Blyth stuttered to a 3-3 draw against high-flying Ashton United and will be desperate to pick up another three points away from home.

Matthew Wade is expected to make a return this bank holiday weekend, after sitting out Tuesday's 3-3 draw with Ashton United with a hip injury. Nathan Buddle will sit out his third and final game for his opening day dismissal, while Michael Liddle is not available until next Saturday's FA Cup fixture against Frickley Athletic.

Grantham Town have had an indifferent start to the new season, taking just four points from their opening four games to occupy 16th place in the Evo-Stik Premier Division.

An away 1-1 draw at Skelmersdale United was followed up with a 1-0 defeat to current league leaders Buxton. Grantham's fortunes then improved with a 1-0 win over newly promoted Warrington Town, before they fell back down to Earth with a 3-1 loss at Rushall Olympic on Tuesday night.

OPPOSITION MANAGER

Adam Stevens - Joined the club as joint manager with Wayne Hallcro in November 2014 and proceeded to take on the job by himself when Wayne resigned at the end of the following January.

Stevens was previously manager at Coalville Town and his eight seasons in charge there included promotion into the Evo-Stik League and a Wembley appearance in the 2011 FA Vase final, which they lost 3-2 to Northern League side Whitley Bay.

He guided Grantham to a 12th-placed finish in his first season in charge, but could only manage 16th place last season - as Town finished the 2015/16 season just five points above relegated Stamford.

DANGER MAN

Ben Saunders - Saunders scored the only goal in Grantham's sole victory so far this season at Warrington, but looked to have made an instant introduction in their season opener from the substitutes' bench when he was brought down in the box just five minutes after coming on against Skelmersdale. However, Danny Meadow's effort from the resulting penalty was saved.

LAST TIME WE MET

Blyth Spartans 1-0 Grantham Town - Saturday January 30 2016

RECORD AGAINST OPPOSITION

Played - 13

Won - 8

Lost - 2

Drew - 3

Scored - 30

Conceded - 18

MUTUAL FRIENDS

None

OFFICIALS

Referee: Martyn Fryer

Assistants: Daniel Smith and Stuart Richardson