Witton v Blyth: FA Trophy preview (From Northwich Guardian)

Witton Albion seek to repeat opening day win against Blyth Spartans when teams meet in FA Trophy

12:06pm Friday 28th September 2012 in Sport By Andrew Simpson, Senior Sports Writer

Witton Albion v Blyth Spartans (Kick off 3pm)
FA Trophy First Qualifying Round
Venue Help for Heroes Stadium
Referee Bob Roberts (Leyland)
Admission Adults £9, Concessions (NUS/ OAP) £6, U15s £3, Armed Forces personnel Free (on production of valid ID)
Prize money £2,550
Replay date Tuesday, October 9 (Kick off 7.45pm)
Previous Meeting Witton 2 Blyth 1 (Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Premier Division, August 18 2012)

Witton (from) Cooper (GK), Ratcliffe (GK), Booth, Gardner, Glover, Ben Harrison, Wood, Andrews, Cross, Fallon, Hancock, Jamie Harrison, Sheehan, Woolley, Buchan, Moseley, Stott, Tuck
Doubtful Shaw (match fitness)
Injured Connors (knee)
Suspended none
Top scorer Ashley Stott (6)
Last season in FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round
League record (Home) P4 W2 D1 L1 F5 A5 Pts7
League record (Overall) Pos9 P8 W4 D3 L1 F13 A11 Pts15

Blyth (from) Grant (GK), Hunter (GK), Buchanan, Jones, Kendrick, Mellish, Utterson, Berj, Brittain, Hodgson, Hooks, Mason, Mullen, Turnbull, Vipond, Airey, Dale, Davies, Hassan, Farrell
Doubtful Jones (ankle), Mellish (nose)
Injured none
Suspended none
Top scorer Craig Farrell (6)
Last season in FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round
League record (Away) P4 W3 D0 L1 F10 A6 Pts9
League record (Overall) Pos11 P8 W4 D1 L3 F20 A14 Pts13

Match Pointers
WITTON switch from one knockout competition to another as they start their FA Trophy campaign against Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Premier Division rivals Blyth Spartans.

Manager Brian Pritchard has promised changes following last weekend’s FA Cup exit at Kendal, saying that no player’s place is safe after losing a two-goals lead in a 4-2 defeat.

Josh Glover is a contender to feature in defence, while Rory Fallon is hopeful of a recall after sitting out the past couple of matches.

Top scorer Ashley Stott, who has doubled his season tally to six in his past two outings, will hope to continue his run of form.

Witton have scored more than one goal on a single occasion in front of their own fans this season, but that was in a 2-1 win against Blyth on the campaign’s opening day last month.

Tommy Cassidy’s team feels it did not do itself justice in that reverse, a game in which Robbie Dale scored his 100th goal in the club’s colours.

Midfielder Neal Hooks is available again after sitting out last weekend’s FA Cup draw with Workington, while new recruits Martin Brittain and Callum Hassan can feature too.

Defender Carl Jones (ankle) has sat out the past four games so remains a doubt, although Jordan Mellish and Dale are hopeful of recovering from injuries to feature.

Blyth have scored more goals than anybody in the Northern Premier League’s top flight this term although their defence is second only to Ashton United’s as the leakiest in the table’s top half.