29th January 06 - Harry - Post Whitley & Witton

A fine win over potential play-off rivals Witton Albion pleased Blyth Manager Harry Dunn.

“Yes, it was an emphatic victory. Due to circumstances surrounding availability we had to revert to a 4/4/2 formation but we could have wrapped it up after 20 minutes. Starting really well we hit the bar and were involved in numerous scrambles in their box – so much so that we should really have been in a better position than 2-1 up at half time” Dunn said.

“In the break I told the lads to keep it tight” he continued. “We expected Witton to have a go at us in the second half, but we didn’t let them. In fact we continued to thread balls through their defence at will. Once our third goal had gone in it was a case of – how many more?
“We played some really good football and the crowd enjoyed it, which is nice as we have tended to play our best football away from home so far this season.”

Dunn was especially pleased for forward Scott Bell as it was only last week that the Spartans boss had said he needed a goal to restart his season. “Not only did he get one goal but a hat-tick!” Dunn reflected. “I was thrilled for the lad because whereas last season everything was working for him this season his attempts at goal have been either hitting the woodwork or being well saved by the opposition goalkeepers. He and fellow striker Robbie Dale are complementing each other really well and I must also mention Robbie’s’ cracker of a goal. A wonderful strike of the ball.”

Dunn also commented on ex-Newcastle midfielder Jamie McClenn’s debut. “He was excellent in his 70 minutes and I don’t think he gave the ball away even once in the first half. Having not played for two months Jamie lacks match fitness but it is exciting for us to sign someone who, only 12 months ago, was in United’s first team squad. In recent times he hasn’t played much football at Carlisle United but he trained with us on Thursday, signed on Friday and gives us a lot of guile, alongside the experience of Graham Fenton, in the centre of the park “McClenn is with us on the understanding that should a League club come in for him we won’t stand in his way. What we can offer is the opportunity to put himself in the shop window.”

The Blyth boss then considered the current league position of the Club. “I still think that North Ferriby just about have the title wrapped up with Marine, Farsley Celtic and Frickley in the play-off zone. We must try and ensure that it is us who fills that final play-off position,” he said.

With a league game on Saturday at Manchester – based Ashton coming up Dunn has injuries to several key players to deal with. Centre half, and Captain, Richard Forster is still struggling with a knee injury, as is midfielder Christian Graham and Assistant Manager Graham Fenton is unlikely to be fit.

Fenton, however, will be in charge at Ashton as Dunn will be enjoying a “pearl wedding” holiday in Benidorm with his wife. It will give her the chance to see Harry for several consecutive days – unlike during the hurly-burly of the football season over all the years of their marriage!
Nevertheless Dunn will find time to be on the phone during the Ashton match to keep in touch with developments. Wryly, he added, “Three points would make the break just that little bit better!”

Looking back to the Northumberland Senior Cup tie at neighbours Whitley Bay last week Dunn was content with what he called a “comfortable” performance. “I was scampering around before the game to fill our bench,” he said. “But we did well.”