Preview | Banbury United (H) | National League North | 2023/24

Blyth Spartans are set to grace Croft Park for the first time in 2024 as they host Banbury United in the National League North.

The Spartans started 2024 off in winning ways as they beat Bishop's Stortford 3-1 at The RDA Stadium as new signing Harry Gardiner scored twice before JJ Hooper scored the third to seal the victory.

Ticket Information

You can buy tickets with cash or card at the gate on the day or online here. All ticket information is as follows:

• Adults - £15 standing
• Concessions (over 65) - £9
• 11-16 Years & Students - £6
• Under-10s are admitted for free when accompanied by a paying adult.

To be seated in the Port of Blyth main stand, an extra £2 cost will be incurred for each category.

Team News

Harry Arnison, Alex Mitchell, Joe Oliver and JJ O'Donnell remain out of action due to injury.

Dan Langley has extended his loan spell with the Club until the end of the season while new signing Jordan Cook will be in line to make his debut for Jon Shaw's side.

What We're Saying

Following a successful away day against Bishop's Stortford, Jon Shaw said: "Look it's a rare thing for these lads to travel and the club have been as they brought us down last night, but because of work commitments we had to set off a bit later which means we get down here a little later.

"Then with the early kick-off, it's just a bit of a disruption to the routine you would want, but they came out bright and obviously we went one nil down and you think we need to click into gear here because they started well.

"But the once we got beyond that it was a great performance, second half especially."

Jon Shaw's post-match assessment of Saturday's 3-1 win over Bishop's Stortford

Opposition

The Puritans were promoted to the National League North last season and finished 17th, two places above Blyth. This season they sit 20th with 29 points, eight points behind the Spartans who sit in 12th.

In their last league outing, they suffered a 3-1 defeat to Brackley on New Year's Day, which extended their winless run to nine games in a row.

Last Time We Met

The sides have faced each other three times since the start of last season, all of which have ended in a draw.

The last two meetings have both taken place at the Banbury Plant Hire Community Stadium in which both games were a goalless draw.

At Croft Park in October 2022; which was the first meeting between the sides, it finished in a 1-1 draw as Michael Richardson socred after 50 minutes before Giorgio Rasulo equalised in the 69th minute for the visitors.

Media Coverage

You can follow all of the action on Saturday afternoon via our social media platforms and BlythLive on Mixlr from 2:45 pm.