Saturday 31st January 2009
Blue Square North
Hinckley United 2 Blyth Spartans 1
Att: 449
Spartans: Mark Bell, Kenny Boyle, Gary Brown, Gareth Williams, Richard Pell, Andy Leeson, Simon Todd (sub Andrew Wright 78 mins), Adrian Webster, Robert Dale, Shaun Reay, Stuart Banks (sub Ged Dalton 87 mins).
Subs not used: Paul Farman, Graham Fenton & Alex White.
On a blustery wind swept afternoon Spartans failed to make the most of having the wind at their backs during the second half.
With Chris McCabe, Alex Gildea missing through injury they were joined on the injury list by striker Marc Walton.
The home side took the lead after 18 minutes. A Neil Cartwright left sided corner was headed home by Dominic Roma.
Spartans responded by hitting the upright. A Gareth William’s corner was headed goal wards by Richard Pell but his effort came back off the right post.
But disaster be feel Spartans keeper Marc Bell, when he dropped a Andy Hall cross only for Emeka Nwadike to tap home for Hinckley’s 2nd.
Spartans got a life line on the stroke of half time. A Foul on Robert Dale just inside his own half, saw Simon Todd take a quick free kick releasing Stuart Bank’s free of the last Town defender, he ran on into the penalty area before chipping the ball over the advancing keeper Chris MacKenzie.
With the extra bonus of the wind at their back, Spartans created very little in the second half, either kicking the ball too long or failed to keep the ball on the pitch.
William’s went close with a long range free kick and Gary Brown’s header cleared off the line.