Preview | Bishop's Stortford (H) | National League North | 2023/24

Blyth Spartans face an early afternoon kick-off on Saturday at 1pm as they host Bishop's Stortford at Croft Park.

Graham Fenton's side faced off in a hard-fought goalless away draw last time out against Banbury United to earn a first clean sheet on the road in the 2023/24 campaign.

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

No updates have been issued on the progress of Michael Liddle's hamstring injury sufferred away to Worksop Town as well as JJ Hooper's respective injury which was sustained in the first half away to Banbury United last weekend. Lewis Knight will be hoping to get minutes under his belt in the next week to two weeks.

Billy Gordon is still stepping up on his fitness as he aims to return to action from his injury sufferred towards the beginning of the campaign.

What We're Saying

Following the goalless draw against Banbury, Graham Fenton said: "It is a huge improvement from some of our away performances, so we've been chasing a clean sheet away from home and we've managed to get it and got our first point which could have been three.

"A very tight game, they had two or three really good chances and we had two or three really good chances, so both teams tried to play at times on a very sticky pitch so you've got to give them some credit.

"But for our lads, we're really just happy for them, you've got to bear in mind again sitting for over five hours on a bus before a game and getting off in fairly hot conditions. It's a big ask and we had a lot of tired bodies on the pitch at the end, so nothing but credit for them today."

Opposition

The Blues were promoted in 2023 as champions to the National League North from the Isthmian League Premier Division, which covers Greater London, East and South East England. The Blues have played at Level 6 in the English pyramid before, most recently plying their trade in the National League South/Conference South between 2004 to 2017, with two seasons spent in the Conference North (now National League North) between 2011 to 2013.

This season Steve Smith's side currently sit twentieth in the National League North, winning three of their 11 league matches and most recently suffering a 3-2 defeat at home to Southport.

What They're Saying

After their defeat against Southport, Steve Smith said: "I'm gutted, it's devastating, for 70 minutes I thought we were the better side.

"We played probably some of the best football here for a long time. We went a goal down and Andre [Marie Godfrinne] scored a great goal to get us back on level terms and I think from then on we dominated the game."

Last Time We Met

Saturday will be the first meeting between Blyth Spartans and Bishop's Stortford.

Media Coverage

You can follow all of the action on Saturday afternoon via our social media platforms and BlythLive on Mixlr from 12:45pm.

National League TV will also be streaming the match live. Click here for more information on how to purchase a Match Pass.