Match Preview

Stockton Town (H) – Saturday 27th April 2024

The Opposition - History
Stockton Town were formed in 1979 as Hartburn Juniors, initially as a five-a-side team but they quickly grew to have multiple full teams.
The 1980s saw them still as mainly a junior team but in the 1990s they pushed on again and the 2000s was a period of further growth including a name change to Stockton Town in 2003.
By the end of the 2015-16 season they had won four successive league titles and found themselves in the Northern League.
An FA Vase Final followed in 2018 and 3,300 spectators saw the two legs of the semi-final against Marske United.
In 2019-20 they led the table at the time Covid came along and records were expunged.
However the following season when the two campaigns were combined, Stockton found themselves promoted to the NPL Division One East.
They have been losing playoff finalists in each season since, with the most recent a penalty shootout loss to Long Eaton United.

The Opposition - This Season
The Anchors took only one point from their opening two games of this season but then found their rhythm with four wins on the spin.
September saw a couple of defeats without scoring, but comprehensive victories over North Ferriby, Ashington and Grimsby Borough followed.
November was a great month as they won all five matches including a 7-1 victory over Belper and in December their only defeat was to Whickham in the Durham Senior Cup.
Their unbeaten run as well as impressive cleansheet record lasted well in to 2024 until they went down 3-0 at Newton Aycliffe in early March.
Recent defeats to Carlton and basement club Winterton Rangers have handed the title initiative to their rivals Hebburn Town but their defeat to Ossett during the week means they come in to this match with a chance of becoming champions.

The Nailers
Belper were in a very strong position at the start of April, with their fate in their own hands going in to back to back matches with Cleethorpes.
Unfortunately the Owls did the double over us and this was followed by heavy defeats to Hebburn and Pontefract.
Belper, having gone four matches without scoring for the first time in over a decade slipped to third bottom of the form guide.
They bounced back with an impressive second half performance seeing them to a deserved win at Liversedge on Thursday evening.
Belper sit 6th in the table with a record of P 37 W 18 D 6 L 13 F 64 A 58 Pts. 60.
At home, the Nailers have won 9 out of 18 matches.
Kevin Bastos leads the way with 18 goals. Cam Johnson secured 8 before his move to Sheffield. Curtis Burrows and Phil Watt have 6.

Head to Head
The Nailers met the old Stockton FC in the old Midland Counties League twice but had never met Stockton Town FC until earlier this season.
Back in November, it was very much a day to forget as Stockton ran out 7-1 winners, Keiran Walker scoring a consolation goal for the Nailers.

Form Guide (League)
Belper Town - (1 Apr) WLLLLW (25 Apr)
Stockton Town - (23 Mar) DLDWLW (20 Apr)

Team News
Kevin Bastos is available following suspension.
Doubts remain around captain Phil Watt and vice-captain Ben Rhodes along with Karl Demidh.

Permutations
Belper can now only finish as high as 6th, one place outside the playoffs.
Victory in this match will ensure they finish in that position.
For Stockton it couldn't be any bigger nor tighter.
They are one point behind Hebburn and level on goal difference. If Stockton draw and Hebburn lose, the Anchors will take the title on goal difference.
If Stockton win, Hebburn need to win.
A defeat will mean they are consigned to the playoffs once again.

Match details
Belper Town vs. Stockton Town
Northern Premier League Division One - East Division
Saturday, 27th April 2024 – 3:00pm kick off
Raygar Stadium
Bridge Street
Belper
Derbyshire
DE56 1BA
Tickets: Adults £11, Concessions £7, Under 11s Free (with paying adult)

Follow the match
Live commentary is available with Tom on Radio Belper Town - https://radiobelpertown.mixlr.com
Full coverage on X (Twitter). Team news, HT & FT scores on Facebook.
Match reports to follow on the website and in the Non-League Paper.

Elsewhere in Division One East
Stockton fans will be keeping a keen eye on things at Dronfield where Hebburn face Sheffield.
At the bottom, Winterton are three points from safety but 14 goals adrift of Bridlington Town.
Brighouse occupy the other relegation spot but can still save themselves with a victory and if Consett defeat Bridlington. The seasiders, because of their goal difference only need a point to be safe.

Ashington AFC v North Ferriby
Brighouse Town v Carlton Town
Consett AFC v Bridlington Town
Grimsby Borough v Liversedge
Newton Aycliffe v Pontefract Collieries
Ossett United v Cleethorpes Town
Sheffield v Hebburn Town
Stocksbridge Park Steels v Dunston
Winterton Rangers v Grantham Town