Saturday 3rd October
Blue Square North
Attendance – 462
Blyth Spartans
Mark Bell, Stephen Harrison, John Brackstone, Michael Tait, Gareth Williams, Darren Craddock, Chris McCabe, Adrian Webster, Paul Brayson (sub John Alexander 82 mins), Ian Graham, Robert Dale
Subs Not Used – Simon Todd, Josh Gillies, Kenny Boyle & Craig Turns
Alfreton Town
Craig Dootson, Dominic Roma, Mark Dudley, Aden Flint, Kyle Mcfadzean, Andy Todd (sub Mathew Burke 77 mins), Jordon Hall (sub Ian Ross 62 mins), Anton Brown, Paul Clayton (sub Josh Law 62 mins), Liam Hearn, Anthony Howell
Subs Not Used – Mathew Wilson & Paddy Gamble
Manager Mike Tait had to reshuffle the starting line with Craig Turns unwell on arrival, Stephen Turnbull suspended, Mark Bell replaced Turns, Chris McCabe for Turnbull, Rob Dale for Simon Todd and Adrian Webster in for Josh Gillies.
A strong wind made any clear openings to be at a premium.
Spartans could have taken the lead after only 4 minutes. John Brackstone’s cross narrowly headed over by McCabe.
But Spartans took the lead on 19 minutes. Gareth Williams picking Mick Tait down the right wing, his ball across the edge of the penalty area saw defender Aden Flint make a hashof clearing his lines, with the ball going straight to Dale, he stayed calm and cracked a low shot into the bottom corner from just inside the 18 yard line.
Some decent play but nothing in the way of decent chances saw Blyth go in 1 up at the break.
The goal of any season (almost) 3 minutes into the 2nd half – Dale out wide left on the half way line lashed a high dropping ball over the keeper which bounced just the wrong side of the post.
Dale scored his 8th of the season on 61 minutes. Ian Graham turned infield at pace and fed Paul Brayson wide left – a check inside and the shot was deflected across goal and from just inside the angle of the 18 yard line Dale struck first time, the ball never leaving the ground, to fly past keeper Craig Dootson.
Alfreton, with their 2 booked players Anthony Howell and Anton Brown prominent, came back at us and a couple of more than decent stops by Mark Bell, a goal line clearance by Gareth Williams kept a clean sheet with Dale the outlet on the counter attack.