Blyth Spartans

0

Ashton United

Hardy (14', 67'), Gilchrist (48')

3

Tuesday 21 January 2025 7:45PM

League

Attendance: 423

Blyth Spartans v Ashton United | Saturday, 4 January 2025 - 15:00 | League

Blyth Spartans fell to defeat in their first home game of 2025 as Ashton United ran out comfortable 3-0 winners at Croft Park.

Jason Hardy put the visitors ahead on 14 minutes with a brilliant strike from 25-yards, Jason Gilchrist then pounced on a loose ball to bundle in Ashton's second two minutes into the second half. Hardy rounded off the scoring with his second as he fired in from close range on 67 minutes.

Spartans made four changes to the side that lost narrowly to FC United on Saturday, with Zach Simpson and JJ Hooper coming into the starting line up alongside debutants Matthew Bancroft and Joe Thompson.

A minutes silence was impeccably held before kick off in memory of Gray Mullen, founder of the Cannock Spartans, who tragically passed away earlier this month.

Ashton started the stronger, showing early signs of why they're the league's in-form side, as they bossed possession. Callum Rowe had the first effort on goal within the first two minutes as his long-range effort flew narrowly wide of the post.

The game was devoid of any real quality for the early stages as both sides repeatedly lost the ball, but out of nothing Hardy rifled in a brilliant strike from distance to put Ashton ahead.

The visitors were the better side and Darius Osei forced Bancroft into a save low down to his left as he tried to curl in a shot from the edge of the area.

Osei then had a couple of half-chances for Ashton in what was a scrappy first-half, but both times Matt Ridley was on hand to make a timely last-ditch block.

Spartans had a couple of promising opportunities on the break but lacked quality in their final pass, and failed to threaten Jordan Eastham's goal for the entirety of the first-half.

Half time: Blyth Spartans 0-1 Ashton United

It ended up being a nightmare start to the second half for Blyth as Bancroft parried a low shot from Rowe into the path of Gilchrist who bundled it in within two minutes. The Spartans players felt there was a foul but their protests fell on deaf ears.

The home side pushed forward in response, with Dean Briggs and Sam Hodgson having long range strikes blocked then saved in quick succession.

JJ Hooper then had Blyth's best chance 10 minutes into the half as his header hit the woodwork after a brilliant cross from Dan Myers.

The Spartans striker went close again five minutes later as Alfie Doherty's free-kick found its way to him in the box. He spun and shot low but Eastham did brilliantly to get down low to his right to deny him.

As Blyth improved Ashton grabbed their third. Charlie Aitken almost latched onto a through ball but within seconds the ball was up the other end as the visitors broke forward, Hardy then made no mistake as he fired past Bancroft.

The visitors then managed the game well, preventing Spartans from creating anything of note as the game petered out, with a number of substitutions from both sides leading to a stop-start final 10 minutes.

Full time: Blyth Spartans 0-3 Ashton United

Blyth Spartans - Bancroft, Oliver (Fell 80'), Myers (Holvey 75'), Simpson, Ridley (C), Almond, Thompson (Constantin 57'), Doherty, Hooper, Briggs (Aitken 57'), Hodgson (Dixon 76')


Ashton United - Eastham, Efunnuga (Bjork 83'), Doherty, Newton, Burke (C), Baird, Byrne (Gilchrist 45'), White, Hardy, Osei (Cowan 87'), Rowe

Subs not used - Denton

Goals - Hardy (14', 67'), Gilchrist (48')


Referee - Ryan Moore

Spartans next game is against Mickleover at Croft Park on 25 January with a 3pm kick off.

Match photos

A selection of match action images by Paul Lynch.

Written by Stephen Burton

Photographs by Paul Scott