Blyth Spartans manager Terry Mitchell is determined to end a challenging season with silverware when his side face Newcastle United Under-23s in the Northumberland Senior Cup Final. The Croft Park club have endured a difficult campaign as they spent the majority of the last nine months battling against relegation from the National League North.
Their status in non-league’s second-tier was only confirmed last weekend when they claimed a 1-0 win at title-chasing Brackley Town thanks to a stunning overhead kick from top scorer JJ O’Donnell To their credit, Spartans have ended the season in a positive run of form and Monday’s 1-0 home win against Curzon Ashton means they head into their meeting with the young Magpies with just one defeat in their last seven games.
Just a week ago, the St James Park clash had seemed something of an inconvenience for Mitchell and his players with the scheduling of the final leaving his relatively small squad facing a run of four key games in the space of seven days. But with National League North safety now secured, the Spartans boss is adamant he will try and deliver a trophy as a thank you to the club’s supporters for their backing throughout a tough season.
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He told Chronicle Live: “I said it all along but I have always wanted to win this season’s Northumberland Senior Cup and that means beating Newcastle at St James Park.
“I don’t mind saying, the final would have been last on our list of priorities if we hadn’t been safe from relegation. It’s a near-impossible schedule we’ve been handed - but the league would have to have been the priority because, as a club, we need to be in the National League North.
“Now, it’s different because we have league security thanks to last weekend’s win at Brackley. St James Park is a fantastic stadium, I work for Newcastle United, I support Newcastle United and I always have done from being a lad.
“But now I am taking my football club to try and beat Newcastle and win some silverware for our supporters.
“They’ve had a tough season, but now it’s time to give them something back.”
Mitchell will assess the fitness of several members of his squad following their two challenging games over the Bank Holiday weekend.
