Saturday 29th December 2007
Blue Square North
Blyth Spartans 0 Workington 2
Att: 542

Workington bounced back to winning ways after their Boxing day defeat at Leigh. Spartans are now looking perilously close to the relegation zone, as they slumped to their second home defeat over the Christmas period.

Workington pressed from the start. Tony Hopper beating the Blyth offside trap on 7 minutes only he elected to centre the ball across the six yard box instead of having a shot at goal found Matty Berkley whose effort was blocked by defender Gareth Williams.

Adam Bartlett in the Blyth goal was then tested with a 25 yard drive from Graham Anthony which the keeper tipped around the post.

Spartans only chance of the opening half came after a Robert Dale cross field pass fell to defender Ben Christensen who shot straight into the arms of Adam Collin.

On 52 minutes Workington made the break through. Spartans forward Phil Bell loosing out to defender Alan Grey, he immediately released Tony Stephenson down the left and his ball back across the edge of the penalty area was slotted home by Anthony.

Workington didn’t sit back but pressed for a second, Phil McLuckie trying his luck with a 20 yarder which carried through to keeper Bartlett.

Substitute Jon Wright grabbed the visitors second with 7 minutes remaining. Mick Galloway intercepting Richard Forster’s throw in who feed the ball into the path of Wright to slide home from just inside the penalty area.

Sub Chris McCabe had Spartans only chance of the second half but somehow headed over from just 6 yards out.

The side left the field with boo’s ringing in their ears and with the visiting support taunting them with ‘Can we play you every week’ and ‘Your going down’. A sad end to 2007.

Spartans: - 1 Adam Bartlett, 2 Ben Christensen (sub Michael Hedley), 3 Kenny Boyle, 4 Peter Snowdon, 5 Richard Forster, 6 Gareth Williams, 7 Adrian Webster (sub Andy Johnson), 8 Alex Gildea, 9 Phil Bell, 10 Robert Dale, 11 Martin Houlahan (sub Chris McCabe).
Sub not used: - Graham Fenton