Saturday 12th January 2008
FA Trophy 2nd Round
Blyth Spartans 0 Tamworth 1
Att: 574

Spartans poor home form continued with the loss in the FA Trophy against fellow Blue Square North outfit Tamworth on Saturday. Spartans loyal fans must had been hoping that the recent good away performances could at last be seen at Croft Park; but the now usual performances which had been on show over Christmas was repeated. Its now over 4½ hours since the Spartans registered a home goal!!

With Kenny Boyle still sidelined through suspension – Harry Dunn introduced new signing Gary Brown to the defence, also Alex Gildea returned after his suspension at the expense of Michael Hedley.

It a first half with few chances for either side, the closest the home side came to opening their account fell to a Andy Johnson free kick which was tipped around by keeper Alex Cisak. At the other end the home defence had a big let off when Jamie Reed beat the offside trap before rounding keeper Adam Bartlett but Gareth Williams did well to cover the pitch to get a last ditch tackle in with the home goal at Reed’s mercy.

The second half had to be better and at least we got some good saves from both keepers with the giant Cisak getting down to save debutant Browns downward header on 53 minutes from a Johnson corner.

Bartlett denying the lively Reed and Robinson but the match was settled on 67 minutes with Reed’s sharp turn and close in shot coming back of the keepers legs and Bampton slammed in from 6 yards.

McCabe’s header from close in was turned over by the keeper and Brown headed over from Johnson’s corner but Tamworth almost caught out the home side three times on the break.

Spartans: - 1. Adam Bartlett, 2. Gary Brown, 3. Ben Christensen, 4. Gareth Williams, 5. Richard Forster, 6. Alex Gildea, 7. Adrian Webster (sub Michael Hedley), 8. Chris McCabe, 9. Robert Dale, 10. Andrew Johnson, 11. Martin Houlahan.
Subs not used:- Peter Snowdon, Richard Logan, Graham Fenton, Mark Evans.