Saturday 22nd March 2008
Blue Square North
Burscough 2 Blyth Spartans 2
Att: 392

Spartans travelled to take on 8th placed Burscough on Saturday.

Spartans started on the attack but could have easily fallen behind after 2 minutes. A left sided corner kick by Craig Noone was only cleared to Ciaran Kilhenney whose effort rebounded to safety off the upright.

But on 8 minutes the visitors went behind – captain Chris Price releasing Kilhenney inside the area to run on and slot under the advancing Adam Bartlett.

Spartans had 2 good opportunities to draw level before the break, firstly Andy Johnson got the better of a hesitate goalkeeper Tony McMillian to a through pass but a defender cleared off the line and then Andy Leeson l saw his effort cleared by Adam Flynn off the line as well.

With Johnson having taken a heavy challenge on the stroke of half time Robert Dale replaced him at half time. He was straight into action setting up Alex Gildea to volley narrowly over from just outside the area.

But the Spartans were level on 52 minutes. A long free kick taken by Bartlett by flicked on by Dale straight into the path of the running Martin Houlahan who chipped the ball over the advancing McMillian.

Only 4 minutes later Dale got Blyth's second. Chris McCabe linking up with Adrain Webster down the Spartans right before Gareth Williams deep cross was met by the head of Dale.

With the home side pressing for an equaliser the Blyth defence could clear a corner out to Brian Moogan whose first time volley went like a bullet into the top right hand corner of Bartlett's net.

Spartans were reduced to 10 men deep into added time, Gary Brown picking up a 2nd yellow card for kicking the ball away at a free kick.

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