Lancaster City v Blyth Spartans | Saturday, 19 April 2025 - 15:00 | League

10 man Spartans suffered a narrow defeat at Lancaster.

Lancaster opened the scoring in the 31st minute when Charlie Cox tapped home a cross at the back post.

They doubled their lead in the 52nd minute through Harrison Beeden. Spartans won a penalty in the 59th minute which Nicky Deverdics missed but Spartans got their goal back in the 71st minute thanks to JJ Hooper.

Bobby Bjork made it 3-1 to Lancaster in the 88th minute before Dean Briggs was sent off for a late challenge a minute later. Blyth got a goal in the 2nd minute of stoppage time through Zack Simpson to make 3-2.

Blyth made 3 changes to the squad that lost 3-2 to Hyde. Jack Camarda, Zack Simpson and Kevin Prudhoe were replaced by Ben Pentland, Leon Burke and Charlie Aitken.

Lancaster got off to a strong start but had to wait until the 8th minute for a shot with Dylan Moonan having one from outside the box that was comfortably saved by Lewis Baker.

In the 10th minute, Crispin McLean sent in a corner that was flicked on by Conor Haughey to the far post but Baker was able to pounce on it before a Lancaster player could get it.

The hosts continued their pressure with Nic Evangelinos getting a chance inside the box in the 17th minute that he sent well wide of the far post.

Spartans got their first chance of the match in the 21st minute when Briggs switched the ball across to the right side of the pitch to Cyril Giraud who unleashed a strike at goal that went well over.

The Dolly Blues took the lead in the 31st minute when Lewis Mansell sent a ball into the box towards Cox at the back post who put it into the back of the net.

Lancaster pushed on for second goal as the half went on with Dylan Thompson having an effort from outside the box in the 35th minute that went wide of the near post.

In the 37th minute, Evangelinos went for the spectacular when he went for an overhead kick inside the box that went wide of the near post.

Half time: Lancaster City 1-0 Blyth Spartans

The second half continued as was and in the 52nd minute, Lancaster made it 2-0 when Beeden scored from close range after Baker was able to save two shots prior.

Spartans tried to respond immediately when in the 53rd minute, Giraud cut in from the right and had a shot from outside the box with his left foot that was blocked by a defender.

Blyth got their chance to grab a goal back in the 58th minute when they were awarded a penalty after Joel Holvey was shoved inside the box. Deverdics stepped up to take the penalty and sent it wide.

The pressure from Blyth continued as they looked for a way back into the game and in the 67th minute, Briggs unleashed a strike from a great area that went over but it was offside anyway.

Spartans got their goal back in the 71st minute when Giraud had a scuffed effort at goal that found its way to Hooper who was able to take it around the keeper and put it into the back of the net.

Blyth went looking for the equaliser and in the 76th minute, Briggs got himself in space outside the box and had a strike at goal that just went over the bar.

Unfortunately in the 88th minute, second half substitute Bjork made it 3-1 to Lancaster when he got the ball inside the box, cuts onto his right foot and puts it into the near corner.

The bad news continued for Spartans as a minute later, Briggs was been sent off for a late challenge.

Spartans managed to grab a goal back in stoppage time when second half substitute Joe Oliver had a strike inside the box that was saved by Forshaw but another second half substitute Zack Simpson was there to put it away.

Full time: Lancaster City 3-2 Blyth Spartans

Lancaster City - Forshaw, Bailey (c), Cox (Bailey, 59), Thompson, Beeden, Haughey (62), Sloan, Moonan, Mansell (Caine, 85), Evangelinos (Lawson, 73), McLean (Bjork, 80)

Goals - Cox (31), Beeden (52) Bjork (88)

Blyth Spartans - Baker, Almond, Holvey, Pentland, Milburn (Reed, 59), Burke (Simpson, 85), Giraud (Oliver, 80), Richardson, Aitken (Hooper, 59), Briggs, Deverdics (c)

Goals - Hooper (71) Simpson (90+2)

Red card - Briggs (89)

Referee - M Reeves