By Aaron Hindhaugh
In association with:
ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant
Northumberland Senior Cup
January 22, 2020
Bedlington 1-2 Blyth Spartans
Blyth Spartans recorded a comfortable victory over Bedlington Terriers to secure their spot in the semi-final of the Northumberland Senior Cup.
Robbie Dale was the hero for Spartans as his two goals were enough to see off a stubborn and well-organised Bedlington side.
Dale opened the scoring from the spot after 37 minutes before netting his second of the game – curling one in off the post after 43 minutes.
Leighton Hopper cut the deficit in half as he headed home after on 45 minutes.
The game was moved to Croft Park on Monday after floodlight problems with Bedlington pitch – meaning Blyth were classed as the visitors on their own turf.
The first chance of the game came from a Bedlington corner as Keelan Nellis headed from the penalty spot which required two saves from Zach Hemming before bringing the ball into his grasp safely.
Blyth’s first chance came on the break as Mark Waddington picked out Adam Wrightson on the right before cutting inside and sending his effort narrowly wide of the near post after 33 minutes.
Wrightson broke past three defenders two minutes later before seeing his final touch run into the keeper’s arms and out for a corner.
From the resulting corner, Bedlington failed to clear the ball and Lewis Hawkins was eventually bundled over in the box which allowed Dale to confidently slot home down the middle sending Callum Corkhill the wrong way.
It was all action as two minutes later. Mackenzie Sharpe found himself free 12-yards out but as he smashed his effort towards goal Hemming somehow managed to keep it out and push it away from goal.
Dale picked the ball up midway inside Bedlington’s half before weaving his way around two defenders and sending an unstoppable effort curling in off Corkhill’s far post.
In added time Bedlington pulled one back as Leighton Hopper headed home unchallenged from close range.
Three minutes after the restart Wrightson wriggled his way past three defenders before seeing his shot saved by the legs of Corkhill from close range.
Michael Sweet was thwarted twice by Corkhill first a stunning save from a close-range header heading for the top corner and then the keeper got down quickly to save the rebound with his legs.
Bedlington: Corkhill, Lee, Patterson (Fisher, 75), Nellis, McGuinness, Burn, Sharpe (Allason, 83), Westphal, Hopper, Fenton (Berhan, 56), Lawson. Subs not used: Kalimba, Douglass.
Goal: Hopper (45)
Blyth Spartans: Hemming, Evans, Wilson, Hunter, Sanders, Thackray, Wrightson (Scott, 66), Hawkins, Sweet (McKeown, 66), Waddington, Dale. Subs not used: Fenwick, Horner, Devitt.
Goals: Dale (37, 43)
Referee: David Pill
Attendance: 413