Blyth Spartans 1-1 Workington
Croft Park
FA Cup Second Qualifying Round
Saturday 22nd September
Attendance: 502
A much improved second half performance ensured that Spartans summoned up that famous old Green and White FA Cup spirit and were rewarded with a replay as they fought back to gain a draw against Blue Square North side Workington. It would be enegetic midfielder Tom Berj who headed home a ninety third minute equaliser to send the vast majority of those inside Croft Park wild, a Croft Park that broke the five hundred mark for the first time this season.
In what was your stereotypical game of two halves it was the Reds who took charge of the game early on and controlled the tempo from kick off as Spartans struggled to come to terms with their higher level opponents. In Portuguese winger Andre Da Costa not only do Workington possess one of the more exotic names Spartans will face this season but also one of the most dangerous wingers too and it would be Da Costa who was at the heart of everything dangerous Darron Edmondson’s side did. On eleven minutes the first chance of the fell to Reds striker Jordon Connerton but it was really all about Macclesfield Town loanee Da Costa who drove at Spartans makeshift left back Sam Hodgson, his lay off found Connerton but his effort was deflected over from twelve yards. Hodgson was on for Jordon Mellish who had been taken up with a facial injury in a clash with Workington striker Johnny Wright. On twenty five minutes Da Costa had the best chance of the game as he headed a Rowntree cross over from eight yards.
However a minute later there would be no let off for Spartans as the visitors took the lead. Again it was…well you know who…who got on the ball and found Will Vaulks just inside the box. The young midfielder who is on loan from Tranmere Rovers struck a low shot from twelve yards that struck Joe Kendrick and dribbled past a helpless Conor Grant and into the net. It was a lead that the Reds deserved on the balance of play and a one they should have extended on the brink of half time, although no before a penalty shout by Spartans was turned down by referee Glen Hart. Robbie Dale ran at full back Niall Cowperthwaite and in a tangle of legs was brought down but Hart waved away vociferous Spartans appeals. The last chance of the opening half fell to Reds striker Wright as a Mark Boyd looped ball found the forward on the penalty spot and his first time volley was superbly saved by Grant, who lept on the loose ball and ensured that his side only trailed by one at the break.
Tommy Cassidy replaced debutant Martin Brittain at the interval with former Workington man Shaun Vipond in order to try and stem the flow of play and despite an early second half chance for Connerton it was really all about Spartans. A relatively low key opening to the second period saw the game burst into life as a Kendrick cross found Spartans skipper Wayne Buchanan at the far post, his knock down was perfect for Phil Airey. Without time to take a touch Amble born front man Airey struck a low effort that was blocked by a bunch of Workington defenders on the six yard box and cleared to safety. Five minutes later man of the match Shaun Utterson won a block tackle on the half way line with goalscorer Vaulks and changed the flow of play instantly. Right back Utterson put the Reds defence on the back foot and recieved the ball twenty yards from goal after a one-two with Airey. The diminutive defender struck a rasping shot narrowly wide of Aaran Taylor’s goal but the effort certainly raised the backing from the Croft Park faithful who sensed blood.
Those noise levels were further raised on seventy five minutes as referee Hart turned down a certain penalty for Spartans when a Dale cross-field pass found Mason in the box. As he span marker Rowntree he was pulled back but neither Hart, nor his linesman Phillip Yates saw any foul despite the howls of derision from Spartans supporters. Cassidy took one last throw of the dice as he threw on another debutant in former Workington striker Callum Hassan, who replaced a tiring Phil Airey. The powerful striker’s presence led to allsorts of problems for the visitors back four and he tried an acrobatic overhead kick from a Dale cross that was easily saved by Taylor but it was siege time for Spartans as they threw everything at the Reds in order to force a replay.
It seemed that all hope was lost as the clock ticked over ninety minutes when another Dale cross found Craig Farrell at the far post. Spartans top scorer Farrell cut inside his man and tried to bend an effort from twelve yards that went well over but it was a chance that would would expect the normally clinical front man to take. As the third of four minutes injury time came Spartans went all out. Skipper Buchanan was now playing as a striker and it would be the Irishman at the heart of the goal. A Dale cross found Buchanan at the far post and he looped a header to the near post and found Tom Berj who headed into the roof of the net from five yards out. It was just reward for Spartans who were much the better side in the second half and earned themselves another chance of causing an upset this coming Tuesday as they travel to Borough Park for the replay.
Spartans Man of the Match: Shaun Utterson
Blyth Spartans: Grant, Utterson, Kendrick, Berj, Buchanan, Mellish, Mason, Brittain, Dale, Farrell, Airey Subs: Vipond, Hunter, Hodgson, Hassan, Mullen Goalscorer: Berj 90+3
Workington: Taylor, Cowperthwaite, Rowntree, May, Bolton, Boyd, Vaulks, Hewson, Wright, Connerton, Da Costa Subs: Arnison, McLuckie, Wraighte, Simpson, Scott, Wordsworth Goalscorers Vaulks 26