Harrogate Town have been hit by a double blow for their UniBond League premier division match against Blyth Spartans at Wetherby Road tonight (7.45pm) two weeks after having won 3-0 at Blyth.

Town are without in-form striker Mark Smith and one-time Newcastle United defender Stuart Elliott. Smith, who has scored six goals in a sparkling run, starts a three-match ban, while business commitments rule out Elliott, who joined Town last month from Halifax Town.

Town manager John Reed said: "It's a big blow to lose two quality lads and while we beat Blyth 3-0 up there, they showed enough in that game to provide us with a stiff test on our patch."

Updated: 10:18 Tuesday, April 08, 2003