Blyth Spartans v Lancaster City | Saturday, 17 August 2024 - 15:00 | League

By Callum Jacques

Spartans picked up their first point at Croft Park this season after a spirited display in the second half.

The home side were second best for most of the game but substitute Billy Gordon came off the bench to rescue a point for Blyth with 11 minutes remaining of the game. Lancaster took the lead in the ninth minute through Christian Sloan but will be left ruing missed chances after hitting the woodwork four times throughout the game.

Spartans went into the game looking to pick up their first points at Croft Park this season with Nobby Solano's side narrowly beaten at home on Tuesday night against Hebburn.

Lancaster started on the front foot and had the first chance of the game in the third minute, but their tame effort was gathered by Harrison Bond. A minute later Nic Evangelinos directed a header towards the bottom corner, but Bond was there once again to excellently deny Lancaster the opener.

It wasn't long before the away side took the lead however, with Christian Sloan's 35-yard effort in the ninth minute finding the back of the net after Bond's pass into midfield left the goalkeeper in no man's land.

Lancaster continued to dominate a quarter of the way through the game with Blyth struggling to get out of their own half.

Blyth then started to come into the game around the half hour mark when Joao Gomes delivered a fantastic ball across the face of goal, unfortunately no one in green and white could get a touch.

Blyth continued to grow in the game particularly through Gomes who forced a corner after a break on the right.

Lancaster's counter attacking threat was on full display when they broke forward from a Spartans corner and Sloan struck the post from the edge of the area.

Blyth created another half chance in the 40^th minute through Gomes after he dispossessed a Lancaster defender on the edge of the box, before he played a reverse ball into Dan Savage, but he was out muscled, and James McLenaghan collected the ball.

One minute was added at the end of the first half and the away side broke forward with Dominic Lawson as he ran through on goal, but his low strike hit the post.

Half time: Blyth Spartans 0-1 Lancaster City

Lancaster started the brighter of the two sides in the second half and struck the post for the third time in the game in the 54^th minute when Charlie Bailey's strike from outside the area clipped Bond's left upright.

Blyth continued to look for a way back into the game and hit the visitors on the break in the 56^th minute but Gomes was caught offside.

Lancaster hit the woodwork for a fourth time in the 61^st minute when defender Harrison Beeden hit the bar with a close-range header following a corner.

Bond was called into action again in the 77^th minute when Lancaster substitute Chris Dagnall found himself in behind the defence on the edge of the box but Blyth's 'keeper was equal to his low effort.

Spartans found their equaliser in the 79^th minute following some good work by Joe Oliver on the right before Dan Savage's low shot across goal was turned in on the line by Blyth substitute Billy Gordon.

Despite being on the back foot for most of the game Spartans had a chance to claim all three points in the 83^rd minute. Aitken and Gordon broke forward with little defensive support back for the visitors, Savage knocked the ball wide of McLenaghan to Aitken who looked to square it back to Savage, but the forward looked to have been impeded and was bundled to the floor, but the referee deemed the challenge a fair one and the ball agonisingly rolled past the post.

Spartans' assistant manager David Stockdale was then shown a red card in the 90^th minute following a discussion between the linesman and referee. Referee Sam Ross showed Stockdale a yellow card before Solano's assistant ironically applauded the referee and was instantly shown a second yellow.

Full time: Blyth Spartans 1-1 Lancaster City

Blyth Spartans | Harrison Bond, Joe Oliver, Joel Holvey, Ben Milburn (Harrison Clark 62') (Marcelo Benedett 88'), Connor Pani, Ryan Donaldson (Billy Gordon 71'), Max Storey (Charlie Aitken 62'), Michael Woods, Dan Savage, Joao Gomes, Nicky Deverdics ©

Subs not used | Michael Hogan

Goals | Billy Gordon 79'

Assists| Dan Savage 79'

Lancaster City | James McLenaghan, Samuel Bailey, Lewis Coulton (Aaron Fleming 69'), Dylan Moonan, Harrison Beeden, Patrick Allington, Edward Elawa-Ikpakwu, Christian Sloan, Dominic Lawson (Chris Dagnall 65'), Charlie Bailey, Nic Evangelinos

Subs not used | Jack Byrne, Jacob Holland Wilkinson, Noah Alabi

Goals | Christian Sloan 9'

Yellow Cards | Edward Elawa-Ikpakwu 73', Christian Sloan 89' , Chris Dagnall 90'

Attendance | 574

Referee | Sam Ross

Assistant Referee | Tom Lishman and David Mitchell

Spartans next game is on the road to Guiseley Town on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, with a 7:45pm kick off.