Blyth Spartans took ages to get out of first gear against Vauxhall Motors on Saturday.
Mick Tait, manager of the Blue Square Bet North club, commented after the 2-2 draw, “We played without much pace in the first half and so at half time I said to the lads that we needed to step it up. We were keeping the ball well but moving it around too slowly.”
Tait thought that the length of the grass was a contributory factor. “It was a bit too long to suit our game with players struggling to make passes reach and it was affecting their touch to some extent. But I don’t want to make too much of this as, in fact, we didn’t perform well enough overall to win the game.”
Blyth got to an awful start when Craig Mahon put the visitors ahead after only five minutes. Conceding an early goal had become a habit for the Spartans early in the season and it came back to haunt them again at the weekend.
Tait thought the goal was a little fortunate.
“The ball took two deflections from the free kick and fell nicely for the lad to put it away,” he said.
The first period was a tepid affair but Blyth got back into the game after 45 minutes when Lee Dames handled in his own penalty area and Paul Brayson comfortably finished.
Blyth had clearly heeded Tait’s instructions starting the second half with much more gusto and venom. Robbie Dale produced a whipping cross which Brayson just failed to anticipate and within minutes Stephen Harrison hit the Vauxhall post with a sweet drive.
However on their first attack of the half the visitors regained the lead when the Blyth defence dallied and Paul Brown sent a searing shot high in to the Blyth net giving goalkeeper Jake Cunningham no chance.
“They shouldn’t have had a corner in the first place,” said Tait. “But then we failed to clear the ball and a poor header went straight to Brown who, to give him credit, put the ball into the only square foot of the goal that wasn’t blocked by an array of bodies. It was an unbelievable strike but a bit lucky.”
Blyth continued to show with Dale more prominent on the right but they were dealt another setback on 63 minutes when left back Phil Cave was sent off after being adjudged to have fouled Vauxhall substitute Jon Ritchie as he broke free.
Tait was appalled, “It was a ridiculous dismissal. Their lad said after the game that he’s just fallen over. What happened was that he had a poor first touch, got the ball stuck under his feet and fell over under pressure from Cave. The face that the Vauxhall players didn’t appeal for a free kick says it all!”
Blyth brought substitute Ian Graham for the last 15 minutes and he added a spark to the Spartans who continued to up the tempo despite being a man down.
Tait commented, “Taking Stephen Turnbull off was a tactical decision. I wanted to play three up front right up against their defence and Stephen is better a little deeper”.
Blyth were rewarded for their efforts with ten minutes remaining following an intricate move which starting with a stunning 30 yard cross field ball by Nicky Deverdics, followed by smooth interplay between Graham and Dale and finally with a calmly taken six yard finish from Brayson.
Neil Hooks almost secured three points for Blyth in added time but his drive flew just high of the crossbar.
The Blyth manager thought that overall his team had sufficient chances to win the game but didn’t really play quite well enough.
“We got a point with 10 men – you could see the usual injection of spirit when you lose a man. I told the players after the game that we need to play with that attitude with a full compliment in the future.”
In terms of the two sides meeting again next weekend, this time in the FA Cup, Tait thought both camps could take some positives from Saturday.
“If either side had won then clearly they would have been buoyed but Vauxhall will be pleased with an away point and I’m pleased with coming back to pick up a point with ten men.”