Blyth Spartans v Campion | Wednesday, 4 September 2024 - 19:45 | FA Cup

By Callum Jacques

Spartans progressed to the next round of the FA Cup following a 3-1 victory over Campion AFC at Croft Park on Wednesday night.

Extra time was required however, after Campion took a first half lead through Aidan Kirby before Joao Gomes levelled things in the second half. The visitors were then reduced to 10-men when referee Thomas James showed Campion goalkeeper Bradley Emmerson a straight red card for a challenge on Billy Gordon.

The tie was won in extra time with substitute Harry Gardiner give Spartans the lead just before half time in the extra period, before Gomes made sure that the home side would be advancing to the next round with his second goal of the night.

David Stockdale made one change from Saturday's draw with Campion as Zach Simpson came into the starting xi to replace Ryan Donaldson.

Blyth spent most of the first five minutes in the opposition half but gave Campion an opening following a sloppy pass, but Aidan Kirby's shot from distance was wide of Harrison Bond's left-hand post.

Spartans best chance of the first half came in the seventh minute when Joel Holvey split the Campion defence with a ball through to Mitchell Curry, who squared it to Joao Gomes, but his low shot was parried by Emmerson before Charlie Aitken's attempt was also saved by the Campion keeper, however the linesman had adjudged Aitken to be offside anyway.

But despite the positive start, Spartans fell behind in the 20^th minute when Campion skipper Kirby got himself in between both Blyth centre backs and tapped home from close range following a cross from the left.

Blyth started to re-apply the pressure in the last 10 minutes of the half with Billy Gordon trying an acrobatic volley in the 35^th minute but he was penalised by the referee for a high foot.

Zack Simpson then tried his luck from range in stoppage time of the first half, but his attempt flew wide.

Half time: Blyth Spartans 0-1 Campion AFC

Blyth thought they had equalised in the 52^nd minute when Gomes' long-range effort was deflected in by Ben Milburn, but he was adjudged to have been offside by the assistant referee.

Zak Khan found himself in behind in the 55^th minute but Bond raced out and cleared the ball before the Campion striker could get to it.

Spartans did find their equaliser in the 61^st minute when some good play on the wing from Aitken led to the winger picking out Gomes with a low cross. Gomes then had enough time to take a touch from around eight yards out before striking past Emmerson to level the score.

Gomes had caused problems for the Campion defence all night and four minutes after scoring forced another save from the Campion keeper.

The home side were in the ascendancy following the goal, coming close again in the 67^th minute after Aitken skipped past his man with ease but his shot from a tight angle was saved by Emmerson.

The game then ensued into chaos in the 72^nd minute when Campion keeper Emmerson was sent off for clattering Gordon on the edge of the box. Gordon had gone through on goal and knocked the ball past the on-rushing keeper before being taken out. The referee showed Emmerson a red card and awarded Blyth a free kick.

Deverdics drilled the resulting free kick into the wall, before hitting the rebound on the volley forcing substitute goalkeeper Jordan Moorhouse into immediate action.

Full time: Blyth Spartans 1-1 Campion AFC

The first chance of extra time fell to Spartans in the 95th minute when Aitken put the ball across, but it was behind Milburn inside the area, who would have had an open goal to aim at.

Milburn was involved again a minute later when he tried his luck from 35-yards out, but his strike was too high.

Gomes continued to be a thorn in the side of Campion and came close in the 97th minute when his shot from 20 yards out went just wide of the goalkeeper's left-hand post.

Blyth then struck the bar from around eight yards in the 103^rd minute with Moorhouse beaten.

Spartans took the lead for the first time in the tie in the 104^th minute through substitute Harry Gardiner when he tapped the ball in from close range following a cross from the right by Josh Norvell.

Extra Time - Half Time: Blyth Spartans 2-1 Campion AFC

Campion were the ones now looking for an equaliser and almost found one when substitute Robbie Thompson struck the ball from 30-yards out, but his effort was too high and grazed the top of Bond's net.

Gomes was still full of running in the 112^th minute when he broke down the left and cut inside, but his attempt was saved by Moorhouse. However, Gomes did get the better of the substitute goalkeeper from the resulting corner. The ball fell to Gomes inside the area before he calmly slotted the ball under Moorhouse.

Extra Time - Full Time: Blyth Spartans 3-1 Campion AFC

Spartans advance to the next round where they will host Bury FC. The tie is scheduled to be played on September 14.

Blyth Spartans | Harrison Bond, Josh Norvell, Joel Holvey, Zack Simpson, Ben Milburn, Connor Pani, Charlie Aitken (Marcello Benedetti 105'), Billy Gordon (Bobby Small 118'), Mitchell Curry (Harry Gardiner 65'), Joao Gomes (Ryan Ndiweni 117'), Nicky Deverdics ©

Subs not used | Michael Hogan

Goals | Joao Gomes (61', 113'), Harry Gardiner (104')

Assists | Charlie Aitken 61', Josh Norvell 104'

Campion AFC | Bradley Emmerson, Ethan Crossley (Haroon Salah 37'), Karl Fitzgerald, Robbie Graham, Sam Bradley, Matthew Swift, Aidan Kirby ©, Michael O'Brien (Callan Parker Wells 45'), Zak Khan (Jordan Moorhouse 75'), Aidan Day (Robbie Thompson 90'), Nicky Boshell (Lloyd Smith 56')

Subs | Joe Colley, Mackenzie Fraser.

Goals | Aidan Kirby (20')

Yellow Cards | Nicky Boshell (45')

Red cards | Bradley Emmerson (72')

Referee | Thomas James

Assistant Referees | Cameron Atkins & Gary Hargrave

Attendance | 729

Spartans next game is away to Prescot Cables on Saturday, September 7, with a 3pm kick off.

Stats by Freddie Chandler