The Mariners play host to Harrogate Town as Skybet League Two action returns to Blundell Park on Saturday afternoon.
With both our home matches so far in 2023 ending in Town victories, manager Paul Hurst will be hoping home advantage helps his team bounce back from last weekend’s tough defeat at the hands of Swindon Town.
That afternoon saw a Charlie Austin-inspired performance help our Wiltshire hosts to a 5-0 victory, a scoreline aided by a first-half red card for Mariners full-back Danny Amos.
Saturday’s match, though, gives the team chance to hit back and make it three consecutive home wins in the new year. The return fixture, played on Boxing Day, saw Town fall to an agonising late defeat.
This weekend’s visitors sit in 20th place in the League Two table, five points above the relegation zone and six behind Town. Here’s everything you need to know heading into tomorrow’s match.
Team News
Hurst confirmed this week that captain Luke Waterfall is still doubtful after missing the last two matches with a back injury.
Full-back Danny Amos is suspended and will sit out the first match of his suspension. Anthony Glennon, who came on following his red card last week, is likely to return to the starting XI for the first time since our match against Salford in late December.
Mikey O’Neill could make his home debut for the Club after starting in his first appearance for Town last weekend.
Watch the full pre-match interview with Mariners boss Hurst on Mariners TV, click HERE.
Harrogate Town
Our visitors on Saturday come into the match off a run of four games without a victory, their last coming in the reverse fixture on Boxing Day. Last time out, they secured a point against high-flying Stevenage but, prior to that, Harrogate fell to a 3-1 home defeat to Colchester United who, like tomorrow’s visitors, find themselves in the lower reaches of the table.
Keeping goals out has been one of the Sulphurites issues this season with them having conceded 40 so far in League Two, the second-most goals in the league.
Previous Meetings
Prior to this weekend’s match, the Mariners have faced Harrogate Town six times with tomorrow’s visitors winning each of the last three encounters, including the return fixture earlier this season.
Our last victory over the Sulphurites came in October 2015 when we came back from one goal down to win 4-1 at the EnviroVent Stadium with Padraig Amond scoring a brace. Omar Bogle and Nathan Arnold scored the Mariners’ other goals.
Referee
Sunny Singh Gill is the man in charge for this weekend’s match. The last Mariners match he officiated in was our 2-1 extra time victory over Notts County in our first match of last season’s National League Play-Offs, putting us on our way to an immediate return to the EFL.
He will be assisted by David Avent and Hristo Karaivanov.
Match Coverage
Due to broadcast regulations, Saturday’s match will be streamed live on Mariners TV for overseas viewers only. Live stream passes can be bought for £10 HERE with coverage set to start at 2:30pm.
Highlights of the game will be available on Mariners TV and YouTube on Sunday.
Ticket News
At present, over 6,500 tickets have been sold for including almost 100 away supporters.
For this match, Harrogate Town supporters will be located in the Covered Corner with home supporters being housed in the Osmond with plenty of tickets being available for Mariners fans.
Please note that supporters who purchase tickets for the Osmond Stand will be able to access the ground through turnstiles nine and ten.
Supporters can purchase theirs either online from our ticket portal, over the phone by contacting the Ticket Office on 01472 605050 or in person from the Ticket Office.
Full information on ticket prices at Blundell Park can be found HERE.
Turnstiles will open from 1:30pm and the Fan Zone from 1pm.
Kit Colours
Town will be in our usual black and white stripes for Saturday’s match while the visitors will be wearing their all-blue away kit.
Half-Time Bonanza Tickets
Our Half-Time Bonanza gives supporters at Blundell Park the chance to win a cash prize! Tickets will be available to purchase around the ground and in hospitality. The winning numbers will be confirmed over the PA system as well as on Twitter and Facebook. We will also update our Half-Time Bonanza website page with the winners after the match. That page can be found HERE.
We’re looking forward to welcoming you back to Blundell Park tomorrow – tickets are available now and will be all the way until kick off. Purchase your tickets online HERE.
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