Stalybridge v Blyth Spartans isn't exactly champagne football but...

Non-league / Editor / 25 October 2007 / Leave a Comment

Legendary non-league manager Frank Gregan tells us why Stalybridge and Blyth will be desperate to put on a good show in front of the Setanta cameras

Stalybridge Celtic versus Blyth Spartans. If ever a game conjured up images of grass root football this has to be it. After a diet of midweek glamour football in the shape of the Champions League it's time to settle down and watch two tough Northern non league teams battle it out in the Thursday night live Conference offering. It will be a real case of "gum shield in and visor down" at Bower Fold, the home of Britain's unfashionable Celtic. Bower Fold, what a great name for a ground, you can almost smell the liniment!

The game is not a league fixture, it is the Setanta Shield, the league cup. It is the equivalent of League football's Carling Cup. The problem for those following the match odds market is that like the Carling Cup it is difficult to judge what kind of side the manager is likely to put out. In order to prevent a manager fielding a youth side, the Conference have introduced a rule that states he has to play at least ten of the players who were in the squad for the last league game.

Do the maths, that means that only five of the previous starting eleven have to kick off, still allowing scope for a vast array of changes. I think it is unlikely that will happen in this instance because both managers will be really keen to do well on the telly, and let's face it, there is every chance that this will be both club's one and only live appearance of the season. However, there is still enough doubt in my mind to keep me away from the match odds market.

I'm diversifying again and trying out another market this week. We played Blyth Spartans a couple of years back in a pre season friendly. The game was in fact about as friendly as an IRA punishment squad and I remember standing in the technical area hoping that my players would all leave the field with their limbs intact. I was impressed by the physical presence and dominance of the Blyth defenders and having spoken to a couple of friends in my native North East this week, I am led to believe that nothing much has changed in that department.

For that reason I am going to try and get a little value on Blyth keeping a clean sheet during the game. Blyth kept a clean sheet away from home on Saturday (albeit at the basement club) and have only conceded seven goals in six games on their travels thus far. There is a market dedicated to either side keeping a clean sheet and I think that anything at 3 or better in relation to Blyth represents good value and should make for an interesting punt.