AFC Blackpool v 1874 Northwich (Kick off 3pm)

North West Counties League Premier Division

Venue Mechanics Ground, Jepson Way, Common Edge Road, Blackpool, Lancashire FY4 5DY

Admission Adults £6 Concessions (NUS/OAP) £3

 

1874 (from) Conkie (GK), Aston, Farnworth, Mitchell, Thomas, Abdullah, Bailey, Connor, Hamer, Stewart, Woods, Woolley, Beadle, Brandon, Igenoza, Short

Doubtful none

Injured Fossdyke (hand), Hurst (hamstring), Jones (knee), Lunn (ankle)

Suspended Ward (one match)

Unavailable Duckworth

 

Match pointers

AFTER being promoted when they didn’t expect to, 1874 Northwich start life in the Premier Division with a trip to the seaside.

Manager Ian Street has largely kept faith with a group that took the newly-formed club to within a goal of finishing as runners-up in Division One at the end of their maiden campaign.

Paul Connor and Matty Beadle, both recruited from Maine Road, are likely to make their debut at Blackpool on Saturday.

The latter provides support for Mike Brandon, top scorer with 37 goals last term, in attack.

Northwich picked up as many points away from home as they did at Barton Stadium last season, returning from 13 of 18 road trips with a maximum haul.

They are unbeaten in pre-season too, completing their preparation with a 4-2 victory against FC United of Manchester in midweek.

Street will be without banned forward Matty Ward, while Andy Hurst (hamstring) and Lee Jones (knee) have not recovered from injury.

Lee Duckworth is unavailable for the first two matches.

Hosts Blackpool finished 13th last season, their lowest placing since the club changed name from Blackpool Mechanics in May 2008.

They had classified inside the top 10 the previous two campaigns.