Preview | Blyth Spartans v York City

By Liam O'Brien

Blyth Spartans face the difficult task of welcoming National League North promotion favourites York City to Croft Park on Tuesday night.

Lee Clark's side remains in search of their first points of the season after their opening two games ended in defeats to Gloucester City and Alfreton Town, respectively.

And the fixture list gets no easier for Clark and co, with the full-time Ministermen tipped to return to non-league's top flight come May.

Key Details

This match WILL be segregated. Kick-off: 7:45pm.

Spartans supporters are advised to enter the ground at the Kingsway End turnstiles, with our visitors entering at the Plessey Road End of Croft Park.

We also kindly ask that you join us in paying our respects to lifelong fans Gordon Young and Ord Scott, who sadly passed away last week.

The Opposition

It will be a somewhat unusual experience for Clark in particular when he faces close friend and former Newcastle United teammate Steve Watson in the York dugout for the first time.

While Clark has had to build his squad from scratch this summer, Watson has added a few shrewd additions in order to mount a promotion push.

Some of those new arrivals are players who Spartans fans know only too well with Dan Maguire, Peter Jameson and Kieran Green returning to Northumberland.

Indeed, the early signs have proved positive for the Ministermen - collecting seven points from a possible nine in their opening three games.

Wins followed against Altrincham and Brackley as well as a draw with Farsley Celtic last weekend.

The Manager

Steve Watson has been in charge of York City since January 2019 when he left Gateshead to join The Ministermen.

York were 15th when Watson took over and used his time last season to suss out his squad ahead of a serious promotion push this season.

Key Man

Steve McNulty, months after captaining Tranmere Rovers to League One promotion, shocked many when the Ministermen pulled off one helluva coup to sign him this summer.

He most recently put in a Man of the Match performance in York's 1-0 win over Brackley on Saturday and will be doing all he can to restrict the Spartans' attack.