By Callum Jacques
Blyth Spartans finished their pre-season preparations with a 3-0 defeat to fellow Northern Premier League, Premier Division side Hebburn Town.
Hebburn were ahead within two minutes through Amar Purewal and doubled their lead shortly before half-time through Joe Walton. The hosts then finished the scoring with a third goal in the 89th minute through 16-year-old Jildo Da Silva.
The two sides are set to meet again in 10 days’ time – this time in league action.
Hebburn took an early lead when Amar Purewal got in behind the Spartans defence and slotted the ball into the far corner with under two minutes on the clock.
Charlie Aitken saw an attempt from inside the box saved in the fifth minute.
Purewal had a chance to double his tally in the 19th but dragged his shot wide of the far post from inside the area.
A trialist for Spartans saw his attempt from outside the box go over the bar in the 22nd minute.
Hebburn remained on the front foot in the 27th minute with a cross from the left, which was knocked back across the goal by Walton, but Purewal couldn’t get a touch.
Purewal missed another opportunity in the 35th minute when he couldn’t convert a cross from close range.
Walton doubled the hosts lead in the 37th minute with a deflected volley following a corner.
It was almost three when Purewal’s cross field pass found Murray in space, but Harrison Bond denied him when one-on-one.
Half time: Hebburn Town 2– 0 Blyth Spartans
Both sides made a host of changes at half time with multiple trialists coming on for Spartans, plus Michael Hogan, Ben Milburn and Billy Gordon.
The flow of the game had been disrupted by the vast number of substitutes but the first chance of the second half fell to the Hebburn in the 55th minute. Purewal got in behind the defence once again but collided with Spartans substitute goalkeeper Hogan inside the box, however the referee deemed the challenge a fair one.
The home side then had three quickfire attempts to get their third goal in the 63rd minute but missed all three opportunities. Firstly, Olly Martin ran through on goal but was denied by a last-ditch tackle from a Blyth trialist, Spartans failed to clear the danger and Hogan was forced into a save before a third attempt from Hebburn clipped the outside of the post.
Blyth looked for a way back into the game and the 70th minute saw substitute Gordon force a save from Hebburn’s substitute goalkeeper Momoh.
The game was disrupted in the 76th minute after a dispute on the sideline between the two teams regarding substitutes.
Da Silva scored Hebburn’s third in the 89th minute with an attempt from close range.
Full time: Hebburn Town 3–0 Blyth Spartans
Next up for Spartans is their season opener against Ashton United at Hurst Cross Stadium on Saturday, August 10, 2024, with a 3pm kick-off.