Saturday 14 August 2010
Solihull Moors 2 Blyth Spartans 0
Attendance – 242
Solihull Moors –
Jasbir Singh, Colm Tiernan, Dominic Langdon, Alex Price, Theo Streete, Charlie O’Loughlan, Joel Grandison, Junior English, Adam Cunnington (sub Dean Lea 88 mins), Matt West, Ryan Beswick (sub Sam Adkins 90 mins).
Subs not used – Adam Rachel, Ross Dempster & Mark Gardner.
Blyth Spartans –
Sam Grieveson, Stephen Harrison, Phil Cave, Michael Tait (sub Liam O’Mahoney 84 mins), Chris Swailes, Wayne Buchanan, Neal Hooks, Calvin Smith, Paul Brayson, John Alexander (sub Ian Graham 63 mins), Rob Dale (sub Nick Deverdics 63 mins).
Subs not used – Jake Cunningham & Callum Morris.
Spartans were without suspended Stephen Turnbull, also manger Mick Tait was forced to watch on from the stands, this being the first of three touch line ban for being dismissed last season.
The Spartans introduced several new faces, with Sam Grieveson, Phil Cave, Chris Swailes, Wayne Buchanan, Calvin Smith, Nick Deverdics, and Liam O’Mahoney making their Spartans debuts. Also with club captain gareth Williams departing for Whitley Bay, Paul Brayson wore the captains’ arm band.
On a rain sodden pitch with heavy rain and thunder rattling in the near distance, Spartans had the worst possible start. After only 24 seconds they were behind to a Matt West speculative lob.
On 7 minutes young keeper Sam Grieveson came to the Spartans rescue with a good save from Junior English to keep the Spartans in the match.
Blyth then started to play there neat passing game, with John Alexander and Calvin Smith going close.
But on the half hour the home side increased their lead. A cross field pass from Dom Langdon saw Joel Grandison beat Phil Cave in a tussle for the ball before setting up West for his second of the afternoon. He cut into the penalty area before shooting past Grieveson at his near post.
A Paul Brayson free kick at the other end saw his effort tipped around by Moors keeper Jasbir Singh.
The second half saw the visitors take the game to the home side who looked dangerous on the counter. Smith had a go from 25 yards, but the home side could easily have increased their lead through Adam Cunnington, and then Grieveson did excellent to deny Grandison in a one on one situstion.
The nearest the Spartans came to getting a consulation goal, came from Brayson who saw Singh again deny him late in stoppage time.