Back to league matters for the Percy boys on Saturday as we travel into County Durham to take on Birtley Town, the game will take place at the Birtley Sports Complex, Durham Road, Birtley, DH3 2TB, 2:30 kick off - all support, most welcome.

Birtley had the better of things last season as they did a league double over The Main and knocked us out the league cup at the semi final stage, in a 10 goal thriller, in which I was just about the only bloke from Percy Main who didn't get booked....

We were twice in front during the league game at Purvis Park on August 24th 2016, through a couple of goals by Chris Glass, but a Sean Telford penalty and a couple from Daniel Hill gave Birtley a 3-2 victory. The corresponding league game was our last bit of football of last season and a fairly dour game ended in a 2-1 win for Birtley, Chris Laidlaw for The Main and Jack Pearson (Birtley's Jack that is) and Tony Smith scored the goals.

What a game, the league cup semi final was on January 28th this year, Percy Main had gone through the quarter final against Grainger Park, a week previous on penalties after normal and extra time failed to produce a single goal, but the following round was in direct contrast.

A Laidlaw hat trick, had put Percy 3-1 up on 40 minutes and seemingly well in control, only for Hill and Simon Hay to restore parity by the time the half time cuppas were being drunk. We were denied a penalty at the beginning of the second half, when Nikki Whitelaw went down under a challenge from the goalkeeper and things went from bad to worse as Connor Halpin, Simon Hay and Aaron McEwen (2) netted to give Birtley a 7-3 verdict.

Birtley have got off to a good start and currently sit 4th in the table with 5 wins from their 7 league games played to date, while the only sides to have beaten them this term are Newcastle University and Seaton Delaval, can Percy Main become the 3rd come 4:15pm on Saturday?

As already mentioned, there are couple of new signings on the board for The Main this week as well....

As an aside, Birtley had their clubhouse trashed my mindless scumbags last weekend, so if you're feeling hungry or thirsty, I'm sure they'll appreciate a bit more custom. It'll be open before and during the game and the post match grub will be served up in there.