Witton v Blyth Spartans: preview (From Northwich Guardian)

Witton Albion play again in Northern Premier League's top flight after three-years absence

4:19pm Friday 17th August 2012 in Sport By Andrew Simpson, Senior Sports Writer

Witton Albion v Blyth Spartans (Kick off 3pm)
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Premier Division
Venue Help for Heroes Stadium
Referee David O’Rourke (Liverpool)
Admission Adults £9, Concessions (OAP) £6, Students (NUS) and U16s £3, Armed Forces personnel Free (on production of valid ID)
Odds (bet365) Witton 13/8, Draw 13/5, Blyth 6/5
Previous meeting Witton 1 Blyth 1 (Northern Premier League Premier Division, April 19 2006)

Witton (from) Cooper (GK), Booth, Gardner, Glover, Harrison, Wood, Andrews, Connors, Cross, Fallon, Hancock, Schofield, Sheehan, Woolley, Buchan, Gahgan, Moseley, Newman, Stott, Tuck
Doubtful Cross (calf), Moseley (hamstring)
Injured Shaw (ankle)
Suspended none
Title odds (SKY Bet) 40/1

Blyth Spartans (from) Grant (GK), Hunter (GK), Buchanan, Jones, Kendrick, Mellish, Utterson, Berj, Blandford, Hodgson, King, Mason, Turnbull, Vipond, Airey, Dale, Davies, Farrell
Doubtful Jones (shoulder)
Injured none
Suspended none
Title odds (bet365) 18/1

Match pointers
WITTON Albion play a match in front of their own fans in the Northern Premier League’s top tier for the first time since April 2009.

Striker Shaun Tuck will make his debut in attack, while midfield enforcer Steve Connors is in line for a second first start in red and white following his return to Wincham Park.

A third summer signing, former Trafford creator Joe Shaw, is out injured though.

Albion, promoted to the Premier Division after winning the Division One North play-offs final in April, have not lost a competitive match since February 18, a sequence of 16 matches.

Blyth play a match at Step 3 of the non-league pyramid for the first time in six years after being relegated from the Football Conference.

Manager Tommy Cassidy is likely to be able to pick only four players – Joe Kendrick, Sam Hodgson, Carl Jones and Wayne Buchanan – that started the north east outfit’s final Blue Square Bet North encounter against Nuneaton.

Pre-season has yielded only two wins from eight matches as the former Whitby boss has experimented with triallists and new recruits while rebuilding his squad.

Fans’ favourite Robbie Dale has returned after a spell at Whitley Bay, while former York striker Craig Farrell has scored five goals in friendlies to date.

Former Newcastle United academy forward Phil Airey and Ashley Davies battle for a place alongside him in attack.

Central defender Jones (shoulder) and winger Lee Mason have missed matches through injury in recent weeks, but both are expected to be available for selection.