Alfreton Town
Paddy Gamble, Josh Law, Chris Shaw, Aden Flint, Kyle Macfadzean, Anthony Howell, Jake Moult, Anton Brown, Paul Clayton, Liam Hearn, Chris Hall (sub Andy Todd 54 mins).
Subs not used – Ben Mills, Ian Ross, Tyeisse Nightindale & Matthew Wilson
Blyth Spartans
Jack Norton, Stephen Harrison, John Brackstone, Michael Tait, Stephen Foster, Richard Pell, Neal Hooks, Gareth Williams, Paul Brayson, Ian Graham, Robert Dale.
Subs not used – Simon Todd, Mark Bell, Darren Craddock, John Alexander, Stephen Turnbull
Referee Jason Tyas – Holmfirth
Spartans were felled by a controversial goal in the 28th minute. Jake Moult lifted a ball over the Blyth defence looking for Paul Clayton. He was clearly well offside and the assistant referee raised his flag for off side, but Clayton didn’t touch the ball allowing it to run on to Liam Hearn who ran on to score, to the protest of the Spartans players and officials.
Spartans had earlier had a good penalty claim turned away after rob Dale had beaten 2 defenders down the left wing, before crossing into the penalty area only for Aden Flint handle the ball – with only a corner awarded.
Jack Norton at the other end was equal to Hearn’s header from a Josh Law’s free kick.
Just before the controversial goal, Norton was again at his best turning around a Law close range effort after the full back had turned inside John Brackstone down the right wing.
The home side then had a penalty claim turned away after Stephen Foster tackled Clayton in the area, with the Alfreton player going down theatrically.
Dale tested Paddy Gamble with a fierce shot which the keeper turned around for a corner.
The second half saw Spartans push for an equaliser. With Paul Brayson latching onto a through pass from Dale but Gamble held onto his shot.
Then deep into injury time Stephen Harrison found the unmarked Neal Hooks whose back heel saw Gamble having to scramble the ball over the cross bar.