Blue Square North
Kettering Town 1 Blyth Spartans 0

Blyth travelled south to face the inform Kettering Town in Saturdays Blue Square North encounter.

3 cautions in the opening 14 minutes against players whose game in around tackling was always going to make it hard for the Spartans.

The home side took the lead on 17 minutes. John Brady floated in a left sided corner Mark Rawle got involved to cause panic in the six yard box with Robert Dale unable to clear, Andrew Leeson appeared to deflect the ball into the net.

In the next attack, a minute later, it could have been 2-0. Jean Paul Marna’s pass from the left to Andrew Hall saw him square for Brett Solkhon and England non-league keeper Adam Bartlett made a great save to touch the ball away for a corner.

On the half hour, Spartans Philip Bell ran on the a through ball on the left and pass to full back Andrew Leeson who shot well wide from 18 yards. Dale’s turn and shot was well held by Lee Harper three minutes later.

Mark Rawle did well to set Marna clear on goal on 35 minutes and with only the keeper to beat Marna stumbled, but got his shot in and Bartlett saved well with his legs. Andy Hall’s shot from the left was well punched out by the keeper, and Bartlett was again in the action as Marna latched on to some poor defending, and clear on goal, the keeper saved again 8 yards out. Rawle again did well to win the ball and cross for Marna who with only the keeper to beat, shot just wide of the right hand post, with Bartlett beaten.

After 55 minutes there were claims for a penalty as John Dempster won a header at the back post from a corner, and the ball appeared to hit a defender’s arm. Marna switched to the right and on 55 minutes glided past three defenders and this time his shot was well punched away by Bartlett for a corner. Back on the left three minutes later, Marna went past Christensen again and his cross to the far post beat everyone. Shortly afterwards the full back was withdrawn and Gareth Williams moved to right back with Peter Snowdon coming on in central defence.

On the hour, Mark Rawle was sent away on the right by a great Nicky Eaden pass and his cross found Solkhon with only the keeper to beat, but he shot against the left hand post and Marna’s shot from the rebound was smothered by Bartlett. On 72 minutes Jon Brady found Marna on the left. This time he drifted inside and his driven shot beat Bartlett but also marginally the crossbar. In the next minute Mark Rawle robbed Forster centrally 16 yards out and with the keeper to beat he stroked the ball just the wrong side of Bartlett’s right hand post.

Blyth had survived for 80 minutes, just one goal down, and following an injury to Bell brought on defender Michael Hedley into attack. His physical presence and long throw were to cause a couple of worrying moments but the only goal attempt the visitors could muster in the final stages was a gentle Dale shot which Harper collected.

In added time Hall set up Marna but again his shot was saved by Bartlett. The keeper was beaten again however as a one-two between Marna and substitute Steve Burton saw Burton’s shot hacked off the line by retreating midfielder Adrian Webster

SPARTANS: Bartlett, Christiensen (Snowdon), Leeson, Williams, Forster, A Gildea, Webster, McCabe, Dale, Bell (Hedley), Logan (Johnson).
Subs not used:- Fenton & Boyle.