Match Preview

Stourbridge open the 2015/16 Evo-Stik NPL season on Saturday with the mammoth trip to WHITBY TOWN.

After a difficult and disappointing second half to last season, manager Gary Hackett will be hoping to see his revamped squad hit the ground running ahead of two home games to follow against Nantwich Town and Workington.

Whitby, nicknamed the Blues, endured a mixed campaign last season, with 14 wins, 16 draws and 16 defeats leaving them in 13th, just three places ahead of the Glassboys and neither close to a play-off place, nor in any danger of relegation.

In the Cups they failed to trouble the scorers, so to speak, going down 1-2 to our eventual conquerors, Shildon, in a First Qualifying Round FA Cup replay, and suffering defeat by the same scoreline against Ramsbottom United in the FA Trophy, both matches on home turf.

By a quirk of the fixture list, Stourbridge and Whitby met at Amblecote almost exactly twelve months ago on the opening day of the 2014/15 season. The Glassboys got off to a winning start that day with a 2-1 win courtesy of Jordan Fitzpatrick's first half opener and a strike from Sean Geddes eight minutes from time, after Liam Shepherd had brought the scores level early in the second period.

The reverse fixture at the Turnbull Ground took place on the Saturday before Christmas, and saw Steve Snaith deliver a knock-out blow for the Seasiders deep into stoppage time at the end of the match, when his speculative effort from distance beat Dean Coleman for the only goal of the game.

Whitby have enjoyed a varied set of results in pre-season with wins against Bradford City, Darlington and Pickering Town, defeats to Guisborough Town and a draw with Hartlepool.

TRAVEL TO WHITBY

The club coach to Saturday's match is fully booked.

For supporters travelling by car, the address of the ground is as follows:

Whitby Town FC
The Turnbull Ground
Upgang Lane
Whitby
North Yorkshire
YO21 3HZ

Directions to the ground are available at the following link:

http://www.whitby-town.com/directions.php

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults........................£9
Concession...............£5
Under 18s..................£3
Under 16s..................FREE with paying adult

LIVE RADIO COVERAGE

For those not able to attend on Saturday, we understand that live commentary will be provided by Whitby Town radio via the following link:

http://www.whitby-town.com/whitbytownradio.php

Regular updates on the game will also be provided via our official Twitter account - @StourbridgeFC