Saturday 9nd February 2008
Blue Square North
Blyth Spartans 1 Southport 0
Att: 517

Spartans registered their first home win in over two months when they ran out deserved winners against highly fancied Southport at Croft Park on Saturday.

It could have been a lot different if the visitors had taken their chances in the opening half. After only five minutes Adam Bartlett reacted well to save at the feet of striker Neil Robinson. And then a Mark Duffy effort was tipped onto the bar only for Neil Sovel to head wide with the goal gapping.

In between these chances for the visitors Alex Gildea tested Steve Drench in the Southport goal with an effort from the edge of the penalty area.

The second half saw the home side push for that all important opener. Kenny Boyle linked up with Robert Dale down the left before a cross field pass found Martin Houlahan unmarked but he volleyed over.

On 72 minutes Spartans had a penalty claim turned down after Dale was fouled by Kevin Lee. From the resultant free kick Gareth William’s effort was tipped over by Drench.

But on 83 minutes Spartans scored. A Dale free kick hit deep to the far post saw Drench totally miss the flight of the centre and Chris McCabe turned the ball home from a tight angle.

Spartans: - 1 Adam Bartlett, 2 Ben Christensen, 3 Kenny Boyle, 4 Peter Snowdon, 5 Gareth Williams, 6 Gary Brown, 7 Alex Gildea, 8. Chris McCabe, 9. Robert Dale, 10 Philip Bell(sub Tony Stephenson (sub Andrew Johnson), 11. Martin Houlahan (sub Michael Hedley)
Subs not used: - Andrew Leeson & Graham Fenton.