It has been an eventful season so far for Blyth Spartans – get to know more about them here…
By Matty Paddock - 05/04/2018
Posted 8 years ago
BLYTH Spartans are hosts to Harriers on Saturday, and it’s time for us to take a closer look at the opposition with our Five Things series.
The Spartans are one of many teams desperate to cement a place in the end-of-season play-offs after a strong season overall.
With a talented squad and goals aplenty, there are few who would bet against the men from Croft Park being involved in the shake-up come May – though they have a little ground to make up first.
Here’s some more background information on them and Saturday’s game…
WHO NEEDS DRAWS, ANYWAY?
It’s never dull watching Blyth Spartans, that much seems pretty clear. Whether their win-or-bust approach to football is by design or otherwise is unknown – but the squad have managed just one draw in the league this season. That’s right – just one. Straddled by the perfect symmetry of 17 wins and the same number of defeats so far this term, nobody in the top 17 has lost more games than the Spartans but, perhaps more tellingly, only the top three in the table have won more games than our opposition this weekend.
A FOUNDING SPARTANS
Harriers in footballing circles are rare, and so too are Spartans. The club were founded by Fred Stoker back in 1899 – the inaugural club secretary come London physician. Of the unusual moniker, the Blyth website recalls: “He thought it appropriate to name the team after the Greek Spartan army in the hope that the players would give their all as they went into “battle” on the field of play.”
A WARMING AUTUMN
Blyth’s reasonably prominent position in the current National League North table is thanks in a large part to their sound form during the autumn of 2017. Between September and Christmas, they tasted defeat just four times – with reverses against Brackley and Salford packed in that quartet. They took points off more or less everybody else and, as we speak, are just two points outside the top seven – though having played a few games more than Spennymoor in seventh.
A RETURN HOME
What may not have helped Blyth’s recent form – in addition to injuries – is a little bit of travel sickness. Defeats to the likes of North Ferriby and Harrogate have come away from their home as part of a run of four consecutive away matches. That, compounded with some bad weather, has meant the team haven’t competed in front of their home fans since 17th February.
A BRACE FOR JAMO
There’s little to suggest this weekend’s meeting between Blyth Spartans and Harriers will be dull, but just to be sure and for a reminder, you’d need look no further than the return fixture back at Aggborough in September. Harriers netted first – early – through Emmanuel Sonupé but ended up 3-1 down at the break. Further chaos ensued, and John Eustace’s charges ended up winning a thrilling encounter 5-4! Watch it back with extended highlights below, so long as you’re not of a nervous disposition!
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