10th September - Post Hucknall

For Saturday’s visit to Hucknall Town a prerequisite for travelling on the coach filled with expectant Blyth supporters was military dress from a bygone era. That is, a Spartans plumed helmet, shield, and sword - although the sword was on the “plastic side of blunt.”

Blyth’s Spartan Army was on the move and the match they travelled south to be part of what turned out to be less of a battle than a series of skirmishes.
Both sides moved forward, threatened briefly, retreated and then resumed hostilities. Neither a pitched battle nor a battle on the pitch. But as the day grew long it was the Spartans who delivered the killer blow.
But were the green and white banners which rose over the field of conflict deserved?

“No, I don’t think so,” commented an honest Blyth Manager Harry Dunn. “Of course we were delighted when Scott Bell poked in the winning goal as full time approached but here wasn’t much in it. “Although they forced us back in the first fifteen minutes, after Ben Christianson got the measure of their left winger, they didn’t threaten to any great extent. We showed a lot of spirit to stay in the game in the first period during which we didn’t really play at all. But as the game progressed our keeper Adam Bartlett’s handling was first class and we dug in.”

And the fateful final delivery? “We hadn’t particularly planned the corner which Robbie Dale put in but substitute Richard Forster was first to the ball and Bell finished excellently,” Dunn said. “At that stage of the game we decided to go for it – the confidence amongst the lads was good and it paid off.” Dunn switched mercurial striker Dale’s role at half time. “Robbie has enjoyed playing behind the front two but we needed him up front to pose a few problems as we looked to kill off the game.”

As Blyth, at home to Droylsden on Saturday, reflected this weekend on being top of the Conference North – two points clear of Kettering Town, Manger Dunn was contemplating the next challenge. “The Bloods Manager Dave Pace always likes to play with three good runners up front and they play pressure football which will make life hard for us. But we know this is a hard month for us and we can only strive to do our very best.”

As part of that effort Dunn is attempting to bring in reinforcements with Gateshead’s Andy Appleby being the subject of seven days notice of approach this week. Appleby would provide extra cut and thrust in the front line as the Spartans again rally to the cause.