Saturday 8th November 2008
FA Cup 1st Round Proper
Blyth Spartans 3 Shrewsbury Town 1
Att: 2472

Spartans: Mark Bell, Andrew Leeson, Kenny Boyle, Gareth Williams, Richard Pell, Alex Gildea, Simon Todd, Chris McCabe (sub 87 mins), Robert Dale, Shaun Reay (sub Jed Dalton 72 mins), Andrew Wright (sub Jamie Poole 61 mins).
Subs not used: Anthony Hume, Adam Gladwin & Graham Fenton

Well with an early kick off due to ITV coverage, the match was being beamed live to 22 countries World Wide, what an afternoon was played out in front of nearly 2,500 spectators – the visitors travelling with over 300 of their expectant followers.

For those that can remember the FA Cup games against Stockport, Reading, Grimsby, Preston, York and Hull in the late 1970’s and early 80’s the chance for the Spartans to get another FA Cup giant killer act seemed as if it was heart over head as they marched to Croft Park for the early kick off and too ensure they got there favourite spot. The opposition the high flying Shrewsbury Town from League 2, currently sitting fifth in their league against a team of part timers who had only won 1 of their last 6 games – a miss match on paper but we shouldn’t forget about the Blyth Sprit and what a start they got.

After only 29 seconds the ball was in the net. Which one well the crowd going wild tells the answer? Straight from the kick off Spartans played a long ball which went to Shrewsbury deep into their own half. Richard Pell headed the throw in back into their half Rob Dale contested the high ball with Alex Gildea finding Simon Todd who immediately found dale with back to goal on the edge of the visitors penalty area, he rolled the to Shaun Reay running on into the area to calmly slot home past the advancing keeper Glynn Garner to put Spartans 1 up in under 30 seconds, a dream start for the Green & Whites.

Blyth played a 4-1-4-1 line up with Gareth Williams just in front of the back 4 and over the 90 plus minutes Richard Pell was outstanding in a solid overall team performance, winning just about everything against a free scoring Town attack.

Spartans contested things all over the pitch with Gildea - what a shift he put in - chesting down but hitting wide on 20 minutes.

The visitors slowly got there game going. Town’s Grant Holt clipped a superb cross from the right just outside the far post on 26 minutes and cleared by Kenny Boyle..

The turning point was the save by Mark Bell’s on 24 minutes, Holt broke free down the left and with only keeper Bell to beat the Blyth keeper saved with his legs in the 1v 1.

The 2,472 crowd went mad on 28 minutes when Williams played a hopeful ball in the air down the right Paul Murray heading clear to Steve Leslie who sold Graham Coughlan short and Reay nipped to run on into the box and shoot low across the keeper and in off the far post.

Dale was always a threat and a mazy run across the edge of the area ended with the ball just eluding Wright.

The Spartans went in at half time 2 up – and to a standing ovation – those in the ground expected the onslaught from the visitors after the break but on 52 minutes the home side were in ‘dream world’ 3 up. When a nice 1-2 between Chris McCabe and Dale resulted in a free kick which Williams drove into the box - a half clearance cams back out for McCabe to hook back into the mix-a Dale shot blocked on the line only for Andy Leeson to slam home from close in.

Town threw on all 3 subs and certainly applied some pressure but Blyth defended well and capably and sub Jamie Poole almost scored when his cross beat the keeper and came off the bar before Town pulled one back on 68 minutes.