Tuesday 17th March 2009
Blue Square North
Blyth Spartans 2 AFC Telford 0
Attendance – 501
Blyth Spartans: Paul Farman, Kenny Boyle, John Brackstone, Gareth Williams, Richard Pell, Andy Leeson, Adrian Webster (sub Gary Brown 62 mins), Chris McCabe (sub Stuart Banks 78 mins), Robert Dale, Marc Walton (sub Sean Reay 89 mins), Simon Todd (sub Alex Gildea 72 mins).
Subs not used: Ged Dalton & Adam Laidlaw
Spartans inflicted a damaging defeat on Champion hopefuls and FA Trophy semi finalists Telford at Croft Park.
Telford had a lot of the ball, numerous free kicks and especially corners but actually did not create much in the way of defined efforts on goal – our ratio was better in that respect. Telford huffed and puffed, Blyth hurried and scurried and won it where it mattered.
Spartans got their first on 14 minutes. Chris McCabe pushes the ball centrally through to Robert Dale – a half-turn and instant ball out to Marc Walton just inside the18 yard line and bang! …first time low across right into the far bottom corner.
On 26 minutes Spartans increased their lead. Simon Todd’s diagonal clip into the area saw Dale get this side of James Turner coming in from the left and bundled over. Dale steps up and hammers in the spot kick low to the keepers right.
5 Bookings (3 to us) and bearing in mind what they were given for then no surprise when Nathan Naylor got a last seconds red – two feet fractionally late on Stuart Banks.
Turning point; – Paul Farman’s star-jump type save in a crowded box midway into the second half; great stuff.