It’s not often a team will risk bringing in three debutants for a vital cup-tie but that’s what Tamworth did for Saturday’s FA Trophy Second Round match at Blyth.
‘The Lambs’ gambled and it paid off handsomely – with a 1-0 win. There was certainly a deserved spring in their step as they boarded the team coach on their return to Birmingham secure in the knowledge of a job well done and a place in the last 16 of the competition.

Blyth Manager Harry Dunn was much less bouncy after the defeat.
“It was really disappointing,” he said. “There was little football from either side in the first half and there was always only going to be one goal in a scrappy, tight affair. At half time I reminded the lads of the good moves we put together last week at Hyde and the quality goals that came from them but against Tamworth we just couldn’t get that sort of flowing football going.”

He continued “ We did, however, put them under some pressure later in the game but they defended well with the young goalkeeper, in his first game, making a couple of excellent saves. I thought that you couldn’t slide a piece of paper between the teams overall but it has to be said that, once again, we huffed and puffed at Croft Park and were unable to recreate our away form.”

Despite being without four regulars through injury, suspension and ineligibility Dunn didn’t offer this as an excuse.
“No, we should still be good enough to perform better. Some of the lads are simply struggling to perform at home.”
The enigmatic Robbie Dale, who was so influential in a wide left role in the 4-2 win at high flying Hyde, struggled to make an impact but Dunn was pleased with his own debutant player – Gary Brown who was signed from Jarrow Roofing last week.

Wasn’t Dunn, himself, taking a gamble on the rookie 20-year-old right back?
“We needed a player in that position after reorganising the defence due to unavailability and the alternative would have been Michael Hedley but that isn’t really his position and, as it turned out, I thought Gary did alright. He’s a big strong kid who will get pacier as he gets fitter. Plus he could have equalised for us late on with an excellent downward header which their keeper did well to smother.”

Blyth now return to the undoubted challenges of the League with a midweek match at home to Barrow and then a trip on Saturday to take on Tamworth once again.
“I’ll be speaking to Phil Wilson for a run down on the Cumbrians” said Dunn.
Wilson, who is now the number two at Blue Square Premier club Droylsden, was previously the boss at Barrow.
“If we get something from the game I will be absolutely delighted” he added.
Dunn will have striker Phil Bell and defender Kenny Boyle back in contention for places in the starting line ups while long-term absentee Andrew Leeson is approaching a return to fitness following an ankle injury.

Dunn revealed that he has made it clear to his players that the League position the Club finds itself in is serious and must be treated as such with immediate effect.
“I don’t think some of them quite realise how grave our position is. We’re currently fifth off bottom and I believe we need to win at least seven of our remaining games to stay in the Blue Square North.”

Be he a gambler or not, in this instance Dunn clearly wagers that a problematical conclusion to Blyth’s season looks to be odds on.