MATCH PREVIEW: Spartans Trophy test
For the second successive weekend, Reds are on cup duty and host the first ever FA Trophy tie at the Fibrus Community Stadium.
Old foes. Blyth Spartans, travel from east to west for the umpteenth meeting overall, the first in the Trophy.
Whilst Reds are preparing for the first game of their 49th campaign in the competition, Spartans have already got through two of the earlier qualifying rounds knocking out 1874 Northwich at home and Wythenshawe away.
Blyth are enjoying a decent season in Division One East and are currently in 11th position having obtained 11 points to date.
They have certainly recovered from last season's woes which, like ourselves, was a relegation battle to start with before they avoided the drop comfortably with a solid 16th place finish.
So, the scene is set for another tough battle against 'the most famous non-league football team in the world'. And there will be no silly predictions from our camp about what could or should happen.
Our record in the Trophy, only one win in the last five seasons, tells its own story and. having fell at the first hurdle no fewer than twenty-eight times, we know all too well the challenge facing us.
The injury situation was compounded at Bury last week and if you bump into Matty Douglas at the game, don't be shaking his hand or patting him on the shoulder.
Having been free of a midweek fixture for the last fortnight, we face another tough, demanding three weeks schedule and, only when we get through that, can we comment on our progress.
There is prize money on offer for the Third Qualifying Round with the winners awarded £2,450 and the losers banking £625.
And the game will be decided on the day with a penalty shoot-out introduced if the scores are level after ninety minutes.
Form guide:
Reds - LLDLWWWWWWL
Spartans - WDLDWLWWLWLWW
Then to complete what appears to be a unique double between the clubs, Spartans will host Reds in the FA Youth Cup at Croft Park on Thursday.
