BY Aaron Hindhaugh
In association with:
ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant
Vanarama National League North
Wednesday, September 4 2019
Darlington 2-1 Blyth Spartans
Blyth Spartans fell to an agonizing defeat away to rivals Darlington despite taking the lead through new signing Callum Roberts.
Spartans played well for the majority of the game but were undone by a thunderbolt of an effort from Stephen Thompson 15 minutes from time.
Blyth more than matched the home side for 90 minutes and showed signs of improvement and hope that they can get their first win of the season sooner rather than later.
Roberts opened the scoring after 11 minutes as he curled a shot into the bottom corner.
Adam Campbell levelled things up three minutes later with a composed finish.
Stephen Thompson rifled one home from 20-yards to give Darlington the lead.
Blyth had a chance to open the scoring on nine minutes when Robbie Dale played a first-time cross into the box which picked out Scott Fenwick who saw his header fly narrowly wide from 12-yards out.
It was a magnificent ball by Lewis Horner which split the Darlington defence to allow Roberts to sprint onto the ball and bend an effort past Chris Elliott.
A second ex-Newcastle United player scored as Campbell swept home from the edge of the area leaving Mark Foden with no chance.
Jake Orrell had to clear a Darlington header off the line as Foden was well beaten but was saved by a last-ditch clearance after 22 minutes.
The home side came flying out the blocks and they almost took the lead after 47 minutes through Tyrone O’Neill but his curling effort from the edge of the area went just wide.
A swift counter-attack by Spartans saw Wrighton unleash Roberts who ran half the length of the pitch before seeing his shot blocked by Louis Laing.
Wrightson got the better of Laing before smashing a low-cross across the face of goal but a deflection took it behind and away from Roberts who was lurking at the back post.
After being picked out by Jarrett Rivers in the 67th minute, Campbell saw his goal-bound effort blocked bravely by Lewis Ritson.
With 15 minutes left to play Thompson ran onto a loose ball that ricocheted out the box and smashed it first time past Foden before the ‘keeper could even react.