Report by Phil Castiaux
In association with:
ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant
Integro Doodson League Cup
Croft Park, Blyth
Blyth Spartans 1 – 2 Darlington 1883
Tuesday 10th November, 2015
Tom Wade made several changes to his starting line up for this League Cup game.
On a blustery, rainy night Blyth could have gone ahead after only two minutes when Neal Hooks’ cross found Paul Robinson six yards out but his header flew just wide of the Darlington goal. The visitors responded with Adam Nowalowski bringing a fine save from Spartans’ keeper Adam McHugh who tipped over his 20 yard effort.
The game was end to end at this stage and Sean Reid almost put Blyth ahead but his shot was saved by Provett at the second attempt. At the other end a timely tackle by Ryan Hutchinson was required to halt the progress of Graeme Armstrong.
With Darlington mainly relying on balls over the top of the Blyth defence the Spartans went on to dominate up to the half hour mark.
Ash Davis found marauding full back Jordan Watson on the left but he sliced his shot over the bar. Hooks then chipped a pass into the path of Davis in the penalty area but he just failed to control the ball which ran out for a goal kick. Hooks was instrumental for Blyth again, this time picking out Sean Reid six yards from goal. His first touch was good but his subsequent shot was bravely saved by Provett. Andrew Cartwright then went on a typical driving run, he found Neal Hooks well placed but Alan White was there for Darlington to stem the danger.
The game started to swing slightly in Darlington’s favour when a good move involving Wilson Kneeshaw and Kevin Burgess found Nowalowski on the right wing. His whipped in cross was well met by Parker to clear for Blyth. After 31 minutes a Robert Youhill free kick picked out the head of Graeme Armstrong but he could only direct the ball straight into the hands of McHugh.
Darlington went to make their pressure count after 35 minutes when Kneeshaw drove past McHugh low into the corner of the net form 22 yards to put his side ahead.
Blyth grabbed back the initiative as the half drew to its close.
Davis out muscled Lewis Walton wide on the Blyth right. He crossed into the box finding Paul Robinson but the ball sat up and the midfielder fired wide. In the final minute a fierce Damen Mullen shot from 25 yards was parried away for a corner by the alert Provett.
Spartans were immediately in to their passing game after the restart.
Fine interplay involving Hooks, and Robinson found Davis in an advanced position but Burgess popped up to intercept. Darlington’s Armstrong then went down under pressure from Parker and from the resulting Youhill free kick Armstrong headed just wide.
After 53 minutes Hooks side footed over and Blyth had the ball in the net within minutes but Reid’s tap in was disallowed for offside. Reid came close again when a powerful Robinson corner was met by his right foot but the pace on the ball took the shot over the bar. Then, after a Hooks pass, Mullen shot from distance but substitute keeper Carl Robinson was down quickly to clear.
Somewhat against the run of play Darlington extended their lead. An incisive counter attack saw Armstrong on the left and he did well to find the advancing Lee Jordan who shot decisively past McHugh.
However Blyth weren’t finished with Reid shooting over, Mullen again testing Robison and a delightful Cartwright cross eluding his colleagues. At the other end Armstrong hit the Blyth bar from distance but Blyth then got a goal back when Paul Robinson laid off a nice diagonal ball to the on rushing Cartwright who blasted the ball past Carl Robinson in the visitors’ goal.
Hooks had an opportunity to bring Blyth back to level terms but he was denied by the swift intervention of Adam Morley who crowded him out. Blyth continued to pour forward. A Robinson corner was headed past the post by Parker before a Turnbull corner appeared to have been caught in the wind and Walton needed to be quick to clear off the goal line.
In added time Robinson had a low dive deflected for a corner and a Cartwright shot was palmed away by Carl Robinson.
Despite Blyth’s best efforts the equaliser failed to materialise and Darlington went in to the next round following a highly entertaining match.
TEAMS
Blyth Spartans: 1. Adam McHugh, 2. Andrew Cartwright, 3. Jordan Watson, 4. Danny Parker, 5. Ryan Hutchinson, 6. Stephen Turnbull, 7. Neal Hooks, 8. Damen Mullen, 9. Asley Davis, 10. Paul Robinson, 11. Sean Reid
Subs: 12. Dillon Morse, 14. Michael Richardson, 15. Daniel Maguire, 16. Robert Dale, 17. Fabian Otte
Blyth star man: Stephen Turnbull
Darlington 1883: 1. Robert Provatt (Carl Robinson 45), 2. James Marley, 3. Lewis Walton, 4. Alan White, 5. Kevin Burgess (Adam Morley 60), 6. Adam Nowalowaski, 7. Robert Youhill, 8. Adam Cocks, 9. Graeme Armstrong, 10. David Dowson (Lee Jordon), 11. Wilson Kneeshaw
Subs: 14. Lee Hume, 16. Nathan Stephenson,
Darlington star man: Wilson Kneeshaw
Referee: Dean Chapman, Assistants: Gary Todd and Mr Garve
Attendance: 627