Blyth Spartans 1 Burscough 4

Spartans crashed at home against newly promoted Burscough on a cold and blustery evening at Croft Park.

The visitors took the lead after only five minutes. Chris Price floating in a cross from the left wing for Robbie Booth to rise to head home.

Spartans best chance of the opening half fell to captain Peter Snowdon who headed Andrew Thompson’s free kick against the cross bar.

The visitors increased their lead on 48 minutes. Keeper Tony McMillan’s long boot upfield wasn’t dealt with by Michael Coulthard with the ball breaking to Ciaran Killenney who ran on into the penalty area before slotting home past Adam Bartlett in the home goal.

On 66 minutes Adam Flynn increased Burscough’s lead with a header from Booth’s corner. This led to a triple substitution by the Spartans – Snowdon, Christiensen and Bell all trooping off to be replaced by Forster, Hedley and Alex Gildea.

This saw the Spartans battle back into the game when the two Gildea brothers linked up down the left wing, before Alex set up Chris McCabe with the easiest of tap in’s on 70 minutes.

With 6 minutes remaining, another long punt up field by keeper McMillan found Graham Fenton the last covering defender, sub Matty Parry out paced the Spartans player and just as he was about to round Bartlett; Thompson hauled the Burscough player to the ground. Referee Mr Parry immediately awarded a spot kick and sent off Thompson for a professional foul. Neil Robinson calmly converted the spot kick.

Spartans: 1 Adam Bartlett, 2 Gareth Williams, 3 Ben Christensen (sub Michael Hedley), 4 Peter Snowdon (sub Richard Forster), 5 Michael Coulthard, 6 Andrew Leeson, 7 Andrew Thompson, 8 Chris McCabe, 9 Liam Gildea, 10 Scott Bell (sub Alex Gildea), 11 Graham Fenton.
Subs not used: - Kenny Boyle and Christian Graham