By Ben Lightfoot
Blyth Spartans are just one win away from a trip to St James Park for the second year running as they face Heaton Stannington in the Northumberland Senior Cup Semi-Final at Grounsell Park.
Blyth thought they had won it at St James Park (Brackley) on Saturday after Nicky Devierdics opened the scoring before ex-Spartan Levi Amantchi levelled the scoring after 96 minutes.
TICKET INFORMATION
All ticket information can be viewed below:
- Adults – £6
- Over 65 – £3
- Under 16 – Free
TEAM NEWS
There are no fresh injury concerns for Spartans.
OPPOSITION
Heaton Stan beat Ashington 3-1 in January in the Quarter-Finals to advance in the Senior Cup after goals from Konnor Lamb, Jordan Lashley and James Proctor.
In their last outing in the Northern Football League Division One, Heaton won 2-1 against Northallerton Town after goals from Spartans under-19, Declan Bisset and Leighton Hopper, which leaves Heaton Stan in 6th place.
WHAT WE’RE SAYING
Following late disappointment away at Brackley, Graham Fenton said: “96th minute, when there has been no fouls in the second half, that’s one point.
“Let’s just look at the second half, we were nowhere near good enough, it’s nowhere near, so pretty much for the first half-hour we dominated being by far the better team, got the lead and literally gone as a team lets protect the lead.
“So some psychological thinking this is symptomatic of our season so far, that we can’t go from 1-0 and so far on top, to two and three and kill the game, that’s why we open ourselves up to what has just happened in that last 30 seconds of the game.”
LAST TIME WE MET
The sides last met in October 2019 in the first round of the Northumberland Senior Cup as Blyth went on the beat Heaton Stan 4-0 at Grounsell Park.
Lewis Hawkins, Olly Scott, Robbie Dale and Michael Sweet were all on the scoresheet back in 2019.
MEDIA COVERAGE
Unfortunately there’ll be no Blyth Live, however, you can follow the game via our social media platforms.