Saturday 16th February 2008
Blue Square North
Vauxhall Motors 2 Blyth Spartans 2

Spartans came back from their trip to the Wirral with a valuable point against fellow relegation haunted side Vauxhall Motors.

Spartans had a great opportunity to open the scoring in the opening minutes, when Andy Leeson got onto a through pass from Chris McCabe but with only the keeper to beat Lloyd Rigby in the home goal managed to smother his effort.

But on 10 minutes Spartans allowed Peter Heler too much room and time to hammer home from just outside the penalty area to put the home side into the lead.

Blyth rallied and Andy Johnson volleyed home after 35 minutes. Keeper Rigby made a right hash of Kenny Boyle’s centre and under pressure from Rob Dale punched the ball straight to Alex Gildea who found Johnson to score.

On the stroke of half time the home side were in front again. Heler the provider with a deep cross for Paul Taylor to take a touch inside Gildea to volley home.

Spartans pushed looking for the equaliser, Boyle and then Brown headed wide, before a goal line melee saw McCabe eventually turn in a Johnson cross.

After this sub Phil Bell headed against the cross bar and Gildea saw his effort rebound off the upright.

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