Rushall Olympic(h) Match Preview

In association with:

ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant

For the first time in just over a month Spartans return to Croft Park for an Evo-Stik Northern Premier League fixture as Rushall Olympic make the journey from the West Midlands as both sides look to recover from disappointing League defeats. This will be the first ever meeting between the two sides as Spartans caretaker manager Paddy Atkinson goes in search of his first win in charge of the club.

Atkinson will be able to welcome the return of Robbie Dale(above), Lee Mason and can include new signing Ryan McGorrigan after the former Newcastle United Academy striker joined the club on Friday. Carl Jones will face a late fitness test whilst fellow defenders Joe Kendrick(knee) and Jordan Mellish(facial injury) and striker Phil Airey(knee) are all still ruled out. Work is ongoing to try and bring more new faces into the club and Atkinson is hopeful of bringing in more new faces before tomorrow's game.

Rushall currently sit in the top half of the division and will be looking to bounce back from a 0-3 defeat at Stocksbridge Park Steels in midweek. They started their season with a bang winning their first four games but have hit a rocky patch recently with only one league win in the last six games.

Spartans in quotes

Tom Wade-

"Rushall are a good side and we have training sessions planned that will get the lads back in and some shape to the side ahead of a good test."

Wayne Buchanan-

"When you have the fans behind you it lifts the players. We can't stress enough the boost our home fans can give us. The young lads have no fear and will get on the ball at home and try to make things happen because of the no fear factor. We passed the ball much better today and we have to show that we can do that again at Croft Park next week"

Paddy Atkinson-

"It's like a mini-league. We've got three games coming up, can we get nine points? If you can, before you know it you're thinking 'Can we get 12 points from four games?'. It's a psychological thing. We just have to try and get the fans behind us and get a win under our belt."

Weather Info:

Partially cloudy but a bit chilly, quite the contrast from the first day of the season

Match info

Dry, sunny but cool

Last time out:

Sat 13th Oct ESNPL: Buxton 2-0 Blyth Spartans

Tues 16th Oct ESNPL: Stocksbridge Park Steels 3-0 Rushall Olympic

Previous Meeting:

First ever meeting between the two teams

Odds Checker

Match Odds:

Blyth Spartans Evens, Draw 13/5, Rushall Olympic 2/1 (Bet365)

Match Day: Spartans on this day

20 Oct 1906 East Northumberland League: Alnwick St James H 2-1 Spence, Wilkinson
20 Oct 1920 Ingham Infirmary Cup: Darlington Reserves A 0-1
20 Oct 1923 North Eastern League: Spennymoor United A 2-2 J Pyke 2
20 Oct 1928 North Eastern League: West Stanley H 2-1 Graham, Richmond
20 Oct 1934 North Eastern League: West Stanley A 1-0 Robinson
20 Oct 1945 Northern Combination: Hawthorns Athletic A 8-1 Dodds 2, Yeowart 2, Barber 3, Robinson
20 Oct 1951 North Eastern League: South Shields A 1-1 Fenwick
20 Oct 1956 North Eastern League: Consett A 2-0 Linacre, Langland
20 Oct 1962 FA Cup 4th Qual: Horden Colliery Welfare H 2-1 Robson, Rutherford
20 Oct 1971 Northern League: North Shields H 4-1 Scott 2, Lister, Third
20 Oct 1973 Northern League: Ferryhill Athletic A 4-0 Lister, Third, Jardine, Atkinson
20 Oct 1976 NL Cup 1: Bishop Auckland A 3-1 Slane, Pink, Gauden
20 Oct 1979 Northern League: Willington H 2-0 R Young, Ross
20 Oct 1982 Northern League Division 1: Crook Town A 3-0 Woof, Dunn, Hart
20 Oct 1984 Northern League Division 1: Whitby A 0-1
20 Oct 1990 Northern League Division 1: Brandon United H 3-1 Mills, Cuggy 2
20 Oct 2001 NPL Premier Division: Altrincham A 1-2 C Pepper
20 Oct 2007 Conference North: Hucknall Town A 3-0 Thompson 2, Webster
20 Oct 2009 FA Cup 3rd Qual Replay: Salford City H 2-1 Brayson, Alexander