Blyth Spartans v Prescot Cables | Saturday, 14 December 2024 - 15:00 | League

Spartans came from two goals down twice to earn a point against Prescot Cables in a six-goal thriller at Croft Park.

The visitors took the lead inside 10 minutes when Jack Goodwin gave them an early advantage before James Foley made it 2-0 on the half-hour mark from the spot.

Spartans substitute Dean Briggs halved the deficit in the 61st minute but Cables regained their two-goal advantage through a substitute of their own in Tom Owens.

Cyril Giraud then gave Spartans hope when he reduced the deficit to one goal in the 88th minute before Sam Hodgson (not Ben Fell like many had thought!) tied the game up deep into stoppage time.

Spartans' manager Michael Connor handed a first start to new arrival Will Constantin who signed only a day prior.

Jack Goodwin opened the scoring in the seventh minute when he cut inside and found the back of the net from the edge of the box with a low shot that was too strong for Adam Richardson.

A goal-line scramble ensued in the 18th minute with Richardson somehow gathering an attempt from point blank range.

Joel Holvey delivered an antagonising cross following great work on the left when he went past three Cables players, unfortunately the cross was too high for the head of Hodgson.

Referee Liam Smith awarded the visitors a penalty in the 29th minute when Ben Milburn was adjudged to have held the Cables player who went down inside the area.

Foley stepped up to take the spot kick and converted when he sent Richardson the wrong way.

Cables looked to extend their lead even further, five minutes later when a Cables player dug out a cross from the by-line, but Ben Elliott's attempt from close range was parried onto the bar and over by Richardson.

Half time: Blyth Spartans 0-2 Prescot Cables

Cables thought they had a third in the 56th minute when they had the ball in the net, but it was ruled out due to a foul in the build-up.

Spartans substitute Briggs was straight into the action after coming on at the break and he looked to have won a clear penalty following a challenge inside the area, but the referee waved away strong Spartans appeals.

Briggs, however, wouldn't be denied and moments later pulled a goal back for the hosts with a thunderous attempt from the edge of the area.

Cables then re-established their two-goal lead with 12 minutes remaining when Owens' acrobatic attempt from close range found the back of the net.

Spartans almost responded immediately when Greg Halford struck the underside of the bar from close range following a calamitous clearance from the away side that saw the ball cannon off one of their own players and back into the box.

Spartans reduced the away sides lead once again in the 88th minute when Giraud's attempt from the edge of the area on the left found the bottom corner.

The referee indicated five additional minutes at the end of the 90, in the second of which Giraud tried his luck once again, this time from 30 yards out with Calvan Hare forced into a great save to deny the Frenchman a second goal.

Spartans then found the all-important equaliser in the third minute of stoppage time when a long free kick was played into the box with Ben fell knocking the ball onto Sam Hodgson who found the back of the net to level the game.

Full time: Blyth Spartans 3-3 Prescot Cables

Blyth Spartans: Adam Richardson, Will Constantin (Charlie Aitken 65'), Daniel Myers, Greg Halford, Ben Milburn (Dean Briggs 45'), Ben Fell, Cyril Giraud, Joel Holvey, Billy Gordon (Mitchell Curry 76'), Sam Hodgson, Shay Richardson ©

Subs not used: Michael Hogan, Max Storey

Goals: Dean Briggs (61'), Cyril Giraud (88'), Sam Hodgson (90+3)

Yellow cards: Shay Richardson (49'),

Prescot Cables: Calven Hare, Alex McNally, Matthew Devine, James Devine, Liam Hollett ©, Francis Smith (Nathan Koehler 84'), Jack Goodwin, James Foley, John Murphy (Tom Owens 70'), Ben Elliott (Kyle Sambor 76'), Michael Carberry (Lewis Gilroy 83')

Subs not used: Ryan McMahon

Goals Jack Goodwin (7'), James Foley (29'), (Tom Owens 78')

Yellow cards: Ben Elliott (72')

Attendance 414

Referee Liam Smith

Assistant referees Richard Rowe and Liam Batie